Martin Brundle said what a lot of people were thinking. Max Verstappen‘s inner circle systematically dismantled the senior management at Red Bull, and the results speak for themselves. Jos Verstappen’s response? Call Brundle an idiot. Subtle as ever.
The Torpedo Theory
Speaking on Sky F1, Brundle laid it out plainly. Christian Horner gone. Adrian Newey gone. Helmut Marko gone. Jonathan Wheatley gone. Now Paul Monaghan reportedly heading for the exit, bound for Cadillac. Brundle’s conclusion was blunt.
“My goodness, they wanted to torpedo the management of Red Bull, didn’t they? I think they did a bit too good a job of wanting to move some people out of the way.” – Martin Brundle
The timing is awkward, to put it mildly. With Verstappen’s own future at Red Bull under serious question and his management reportedly sounding out McLaren about availability, the suggestion that Team Verstappen hollowed out the very team they now want to leave is a genuinely uncomfortable one. McLaren’s own drivers are divided on whether Verstappen should join them, which adds another layer of complexity to an already messy situation.
Jos Goes Online, Predictably
Jos Verstappen, present at Silverstone this weekend to support his son, saw Brundle’s comments and responded with all the measured restraint we have come to expect from him. On Instagram, he posted: “Again such an idiot who thinks he knows how it is.” There we go. Case closed, apparently.
It is worth noting this is not an isolated incident. Jos has recently taken aim at Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya for daring to offer critical analysis of his son. The pattern is becoming rather predictable: analysts say something uncomfortable, Jos calls them names online. It is not exactly a sophisticated media strategy.
Meanwhile, Antonelli Keeps Winning
While the Verstappen camp wages war on television pundits, Brundle also found time to offer a warning about Kimi Antonelli, who leads the 2026 championship with 171 points after five race wins. Brundle acknowledged the speed is undeniable but flagged that Antonelli’s aggressive style carries risk. Given Red Bull’s recent surge, any title wobble from Antonelli could cost Mercedes dearly.
The Bigger Picture
Brundle’s torpedo theory deserves proper scrutiny rather than an Instagram insult. Red Bull are clearly weaker for the departures, Verstappen is clearly looking at his options, and the people shouting “idiot” from the side-lines are not exactly helping the conversation. Draw your own conclusions.
