Red Bull receive further criticism after latest Verstappen complaint

Red Bull has received further criticism from former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher, this time over its response to the departure of Adrian Newey. 

After 19 years working for the Austrian outfit, Newey announced his departure from Red Bull on May 1 last year. He joined rivals Aston Martin on March 3. 

Since Newey confirmed his exit from the Milton Keynes-based team, Red Bull has struggled to solve problems with its cars. 

After failing to solve issues last season with its RB20, it has already encountered several difficulties this year with the RB21. 

Max Verstappen complained over the Chinese Grand Prix weekend of the car being "too slow". Many believe the loss of Newey has resulted in Red Bull's mounting car problems. 

Schumacher agrees the departure of Newey has been significant for Red Bull, due to a particular belief from the German.

"I say one man can make the difference, if there is the right atmosphere," Schumacher told Formel1.de. "If you know Adrian Newey, you know how he is. 

"He's extremely ambitious, but he's also an incredible family man who gets his whole group involved and spends time at home with his people. 

"I think that makes a big difference. You just have to give everyone space, but also bring everyone together and get the best out of it.

"He's incredibly good at that, and what he's especially good at, too, is assessing, 'What can I do or should I do with the car?' But my driver also has to drive the whole thing.' 

"That means that the car has to be drivable and have a slightly broader limit, even if you give up, let's say, a little bit of performance. And I think that this relationship is something that really defines him."

Red Bull's Marshall mistake

Newey was not the first major figure to leave Red Bull in recent years, with former chief designer Rob Marshall departing in 2023 to join McLaren. 

Marshall has played a significant role in McLaren's recent resurgence which saw the Woking-based team win its first constructors' title since 1998 last year. 

Schumacher believes Red Bull underestimated the importance of Marshall and should have predicted that Newey would leave. 

"Well, I think as things stand, you have to say they underestimated what he did," added Schumacher. "He could, of course, do exactly the same thing. But you have to say the McLaren is not that easy, as you can see. 

"Sometimes the drivers find it a bit difficult. Now in China, I have to say that Oscar Piastri, of course, did great, but it was a bit tighter than you would expect, at least in the sprint race.

"In the race, they were a bit in their own class, but he did great. I think that was also the long learning curve and at some point, it was time for him [Marshall] to go [from Red Bull]. 

"And maybe Red Bull could have responded smarter, in that they could have assumed that at some point Adrian would say, I don't want to continue anymore."