Steiner warns Red Bull's rebuild could take years

Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner told the Drive to Wynn podcast that Red Bull’s new team principal Laurent Mekies faces a long‑term rebuilding job. A shaky start to 2026, a 119‑point deficit to Mercedes and a wave of departures mean the Austrian squad won’t be back at the top in the next year or two.

Why it matters:

• Red Bull’s five‑year dominance defined the sport; a prolonged slump threatens its commercial clout and fan appeal.
• Falling 119 points behind in the Constructors’ standings erodes sponsor leverage and driver morale.
• The exodus of senior staff (Helmut Marko, Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, Gianpiero Lambiase) could accelerate a talent drain across F1.

The details:

• RB22 reliability issues: Max Verstappen retired in China with a DRS coolant leak and called the car “completely undriveable.”
• Verstappen finished P8 in Japan, dropping to ninth in the Drivers’ standings.
• After two races Red Bull sits 119 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors’ table.
• Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer, will join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer in 2028.
• Recent departures also include Adrian Newey (engineering) and Jonathan Wheatley (chief aerodynamicist).

What's next:

• Steiner believes Mekies can recruit young talent and rebuild the operation, but he isn’t a magician.
• Red Bull must focus on chassis development, power‑unit integration and retaining key engineers.
• Expect a gradual climb; the team is unlikely to challenge for championships before the 2027 season.