been heavily mixed. The six-time constructors’ champions sit fourth
in the standings on 89 points after seven races, trailing Mercedes
(262), Ferrari (190) and McLaren (141), and RacingNews365 readers
do not expect that to change. In our latest poll, a commanding
50.9% of voters believe Red Bull will remain in fourth for the
entire season. Just 10.3% think they can become the strongest team,
with 15.1% backing them for second and 23.7% for third. It is
difficult to argue with the pessimism. Max Verstappen’s best result
is a third place in Canada, and he has already suffered two
retirements, including a front-row start in Monaco that yielded
nothing. The new Red Bull Ford power unit, while described as
aggressively tuned for performance, remains unproven against the
established might of Mercedes and Ferrari. Team principal Laurent
Mekies has been candid, admitting Red Bull “don’t expect to be
winning” in the short term, framing the 2026 project as a longer
journey back to the front. With the gap to McLaren in third already
at 52 points and growing, the mountain only gets steeper. Check out
the full poll results below! Will Red Bull rise higher than fourth
in the pecking order in 2026?