Red Bull May Be Repeating Ferrari’s 2009 Collapse: Franz Tost Declares the Era of Dominance Is Officially Over

The motorsport world is in disbelief today as former AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost dropped a bombshell that could reshape the way fans view the current Formula 1 landscape. In a statement that has quickly gone viral across racing media and social platforms, Tost compared Red Bull Racing’s current situation to Ferrari’s dramatic collapse in 2009—a season that marked the sudden end of the Scuderia’s reign after years of dominance. According to Tost, Red Bull is now on the very same path.

Speaking to reporters just days after Red Bull’s latest underwhelming performance, Tost openly suggested that the Milton Keynes-based team has “lost focus” in much the same way Ferrari did more than a decade ago. He referenced a dangerous pattern: a team dominating for years, then becoming complacent, misjudging regulation changes, and suddenly finding itself outpaced by more aggressive rivals. “Red Bull is doing exactly what Ferrari did in 2009,” Tost said. “The moment you start managing your legacy instead of fighting for it, the clock starts ticking. Today, that ticking is getting louder.”

The statement has sent shockwaves through the paddock. Red Bull has dominated the last few seasons almost unchallenged, with Max Verstappen rewriting the record books and the team achieving nearly untouchable consistency in both qualifying and race pace. But the cracks have started to show. McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes are all closing the gap in 2025, and the most recent races have proven that Red Bull’s technical advantage is no longer a guarantee of victory.

Insiders are now questioning whether Red Bull has fallen into the same trap that ended Ferrari’s golden era in the late 2000s. In 2009, Ferrari struggled with regulatory changes, particularly the introduction of new aerodynamic rules. Despite having world-class drivers and resources, they failed to adapt quickly and lost their dominant edge to teams like Brawn GP and Red Bull itself. Now, history may be repeating itself, only this time Red Bull is on the receiving end.

Tost pointed out several key warning signs, including Red Bull’s recent failure to bring effective upgrades to the RB20, strategic mistakes in pit stops, and an over-reliance on past success rather than innovation. He warned that the team’s leadership, especially in the post-Dietrich Mateschitz era, might be “too comfortable” with their position at the top.

Fans and analysts are debating whether Tost’s assessment is overly dramatic or brutally accurate. Some argue that Red Bull still leads the standings and retains Max Verstappen, arguably the most dominant driver of this generation. But others note that success in F1 can disappear overnight, especially when rivals smell blood in the water. McLaren’s recent podium streak, Ferrari’s tire management improvements, and Mercedes’ quiet but steady development all suggest a brewing storm.

Red Bull has yet to issue an official response to Tost’s comments, but sources inside the team indicate that the remarks have not gone unnoticed. There is growing tension behind the scenes, with technical staff pushing for faster innovation while management balances the pressures of marketing, legacy, and regulatory constraints.

As the second half of the 2025 season approaches, fans are left wondering: Is this really the beginning of the end for Red Bull’s era of dominance? Or will Christian Horner’s team silence the critics and bounce back with the upgrades they’ve promised for the next Grand Prix?

One thing is clear—Franz Tost’s statement has ignited a conversation that no one in the Red Bull camp can afford to ignore.