Despite seizing his fourth consecutive World Championship in 2024, Max Verstappen has confirmed that Red Bull continues to grapple with significant issues regarding the new RB21 car for the upcoming F1 2025 season. Verstappen specifically pointed out persistent problems with the car’s handling over kerbs and bumps, a weakness he is determined to persistently highlight as he gears up to defend his World Championship title.
In the previous season, Verstappen’s dominant start was eclipsed by a dry period between June and November, where he failed to secure a win across ten races. This dip in performance was attributed to Red Bull’s misdirected development of the RB20 car, which struggled on bumpy tracks and circuits where kerb usage was critical, a problem first noted at the Monaco Grand Prix where Verstappen only managed a sixth-place finish.
In a bid to rectify this, Red Bull has focused its efforts on improving the RB21’s stability over the winter season. However, Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Waché, admitted that the car’s performance during the pre-season test in Bahrain did not meet his expectations. It failed to respond optimally to setup changes, a recurring issue from its predecessor, casting doubts on Red Bull’s progress ahead of the F1 2025 season kickoff.
In his assessment, Verstappen noted that the RB21’s performance felt slightly more unified, particularly during corner entry and mid-corner phase. Yet, he acknowledged that the kerbs and bumps continue to pose challenges, even after concerted efforts to address these issues. He also mentioned that the car’s understeer balance could use some improvement.
Red Bull’s prospects for victory in Australia seem unlikely according to Verstappen, as he identified McLaren as the favorites given the lap times. He highlighted that Red Bull still has work to do, admitting that not everything went smoothly during testing. However, he also expressed optimism about potential improvements, having spent considerable time in the simulator with the team.
Verstappen’s father, Jos, corroborated his son’s early apprehension about the RB20’s balance being ‘not right.’ He revealed that despite Max’s early wins in the season, he was already vocal about the balance issues within the team. However, these concerns were not immediately addressed, leading to delayed improvements.
In an exclusive interview with PlanetF1.com, Waché explained that Red Bull aims to make the RB21 easier to drive by potentially reducing the car’s overall potential. This step is in response to the challenges faced by F1 teams of adding more downforce to the car under the ground-effect rules introduced in 2022, without triggering undesirable characteristics such as porpoising.
While the RB21 continues to be a work in progress, Verstappen’s determination to address its weaknesses and Red Bull’s resolve to improve the car’s performance suggest a promising season ahead. Despite the challenges, Verstappen’s focus on winning his fifth World Championship remains unwavering.
