Schumacher hits out at Marko and Red Bull: 'Mateschitz would turn in his grave'

Ralf Schumacher has hit out at "headless gang" Red Bull, believing late owner Dietrich Mateschitz would "turn in his grave" at the state of the team. 

Red Bull announced on Thursday that Liam Lawson would be demoted back to Racing Bulls after just two races to be replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, as it also battles to try and turnaround its RB21 car, which is well off the pace.

It came after Lawson was promoted to replace Sergio Perez, who was paid off not to race in 2025 despite signing a new two-year contract ahead of last season's Canadian GP. 

The team is also undergoing major change after the departures of Adrian Newey as chief technical officer and Jonathan Wheatley as sporting director, whilst strategy chief Will Courtenay is also leaving for McLaren, but is currently seeing out his contract.

In addition, there is also the major uncertainty of the new 2026 power units, with Red Bull developing its own in-house engine for the first time. 

Reflecting on the situation, six-time grand prix winner Schumacher firmly hit out at Red Bull.

"I'll just call it a headless gang at the moment, there's almost no other way to put it," Schumacher told the Backstage Boxengasse podcast. 

"Firefighting is now the order of the day, the driver has to get out of the team, another has to get in, it is crisis consultation. 

"'Can we get the car fast enough for Max Verstappen, or oh God, Max will leave us otherwise.'

"If you consider where Red Bull was, and where they are now, Dietrich Mateschitz would turn in his grave if he saw this.

"Dr Marko sometimes plays an unfortunate role as he wants to encourage the drivers, but makes a lot of demands and then doesn't give drivers enough time to perform..

"Two races alongside Max Verstappen is just not enough, the car is pretty hard to drive and you are not doing the youngsters any favours."