F1 News Today: Red Bull facing demotion as major testing problem e….readmore 

Red Bull Racing, the reigning Formula 1 champions, are facing significant challenges as the 2025 season approaches, following troubling pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. The team has encountered a series of technical setbacks that could hinder their competitiveness at the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, scheduled for just over a week from now.
Testing Troubles
Red Bull’s pre-season testing has been far from smooth, with Technical Director Pierre Wache admitting that the team faced several reliability issues. These included a water pressure failure on Thursday and an oil leak on Friday, which resulted in reduced track time and incomplete race simulations. Wache commented, “It was not as smooth a test as we expected and the team expected, but it is better to find some problems here than later down the line.”
Max Verstappen, the team’s star driver, acknowledged the issues, stating that while the day was not entirely negative, there’s still significant work to be done. The car’s performance was not always as expected, though he remained optimistic about the team’s direction, even if progress was slower than anticipated.
Competitive Landscape
During the same testing sessions, rival teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes displayed strong performances. McLaren consistently topped the timesheets, while Ferrari also showed promising form. Meanwhile, Mercedes, with a new rookie lineup featuring Andrea Kimi Antonelli alongside George Russell, completed the most laps, signaling substantial progress compared to Red Bull’s struggles.
Strategic Adjustments
In light of these issues, Red Bull’s technical team is working on adjusting the car’s setup. They are exploring various solutions to improve the balance and responsiveness of the RB21. Wache stressed the need to fully understand the car’s behavior across different setups in order to unlock its full potential.
Looking Ahead
With the Australian Grand Prix rapidly approaching, Red Bull is under pressure to resolve these challenges quickly in order to remain competitive. The team is thoroughly analyzing the data from the Bahrain tests to fine-tune the car’s performance and setup. The upcoming season opener will be a critical test of how well Red Bull has addressed these early-season issues and whether they can defend their championship title in 2025.