Formula 1 star Max Verstappen has recently voiced his incredulity in measuring the comparative advantages of McLaren’s 2025 vision and Red Bull’s 2023 model. His remarks come amidst ongoing discussions within the racing community, not least from Mercedes’ George Russell, who has frequently expressed his dismay at the perceived lead McLaren seems to hold over the competition.
In the early stages of the 2025 season, Russell had proposed that McLaren’s pace with the MCL39 model is so advanced, they could afford to shift their entire developmental energy into the following year. His stance was further fortified during a recent event in Shanghai, where he audaciously suggested that McLaren’s current lead over the field surpasses any advantage Red Bull has previously experienced, even during their near-domination in 2023.
Verstappen, however, remains skeptical about these assertions. While acknowledging McLaren’s formidable track record, he insists that one cannot accurately gauge the superiority of the MCL39 over Red Bull’s winning vehicle, the RB19, unless they’ve had firsthand experience behind the wheel of the McLaren model. Verstappen’s reticence to prematurely crown McLaren as the undisputed champion is indicative of his respect for the ever-evolving nature of Formula 1 racing.
Verstappen didn’t hold back in praising McLaren, acknowledging their impressive speed and all-round performance. However, he remained cautious, stating that estimating the actual gap in performance is a challenging task.
When it comes to Red Bull’s current performance, Verstappen believes the RB21 model needs improvements in terms of its all-around ability, an area where McLaren seems to excel. He expressed the necessity for Red Bull to focus more on their own car’s performance, which he views as the only controllable factor in this high-speed chess game. Verstappen’s hope is that a step-by-step approach will unearth additional performance from the RB21.
Regarding the upcoming race weekend, Verstappen was pragmatic and realistic. He conceded that Red Bull is unlikely to outstrip McLaren given their current form. However, he reiterated the importance of focusing on Red Bull’s own performance and striving to extract the absolute best from their machinery.
In terms of the competition behind McLaren, Verstappen observed that Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari had all demonstrated a similar pace in Australia. He does, however, anticipate fluctuations in these rankings depending on track conditions. As the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Verstappen’s predictions will hold true, and if McLaren will maintain their perceived advantage.
