Max Verstappen setting off ‘alarm bells’ at Red Bull ahead of…read more
Red Bull’s performance has raised significant concerns just a few races into the 2025 Formula 1 season. While Max Verstappen secured a second-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix, his experience in Shanghai left him uncertain about how much he could push the RB21 on its tires. Verstappen has voiced concerns about the car’s narrow performance window, a recurring issue that plagued last year’s model.
As Red Bull currently sits third in the Constructors’ Championship, Verstappen is also just eight points behind Lando Norris in the Drivers’ standings. However, these achievements do not overshadow the turmoil brewing within the team. Verstappen, despite his impressive skills, has struggled with the car’s performance, which has led to behind-the-scenes efforts to resolve the issues with the RB21. It’s still unclear whether these problems are easily solvable or if deeper adjustments are needed.
The situation at Red Bull seems to be growing more tense, especially with the struggles of Verstappen’s teammate, Liam Lawson. Lawson’s challenges with understanding and adapting to the new car have been significant, and reports indicate that an immediate driver change could be on the horizon. Lawson has been vocal about his frustration, echoing Verstappen’s concerns after the Chinese Grand Prix. His inability to get to grips with the car has not gone unnoticed, and now it seems that the alarm bells initially triggered by Sergio Perez’s poor performance last season are being sounded again.
A recent report from the Italian outlet Autoracer sheds more light on the growing unease within the team. Verstappen, despite his efforts to fix the car’s issues, is facing mounting pressure as it remains unclear what is causing the RB21’s struggles. His efforts are crucial, but the overall uncertainty regarding the car’s setup has raised red flags within the team.
Lawson’s frustrations are now aligning with the issues Verstappen raised earlier in the season, particularly regarding the RB21’s performance limitations. His comments following the Chinese Grand Prix further underlined the severity of the situation, indicating that the team might need to reconsider its driver lineup for the future.
In summary, Red Bull’s problems with the RB21 are more than just minor glitches. Verstappen’s concerns, combined with Lawson’s struggles, suggest a deeper issue within the team. With the clock ticking and the pressure mounting, Red Bull will need to act swiftly if they want to avoid a repeat of last season’s internal struggles and ensure that they remain competitive in the ongoing championship battle.
