Despite clinching the drivers’ championship, Max Verstappen remains cautious about the coming 2025 Formula 1 season given Red Bull’s rocky start during preseason testing. The 27-year-old star driver’s wariness stems from an uncertain future marked by persistent stability issues which hint at possible hurdles ahead.
Red Bull’s optimistic entry into the Bahrain test was met with a reality check. High hopes were quickly tempered as technical issues plagued their rookie driver, Liam Lawson. The New Zealander, who demonstrated significant potential, battled with familiar balance issues that hampered his performance.
During the first day of testing, Lawson’s swift reflexes were put to the test as he grappled with oversteer at Turn 4. Later, an incident at Turns 2 and 3 saw the rookie pushing his vehicle too hard on the kerbs, leading to a spin-out as his car bottomed out.
This seeming déjà vu of stability issues mirrors past difficulties faced by Sergio Perez and, to a lesser extent, Verstappen himself. It played a significant role in Red Bull’s occasional drop to the fourth position in team standings during the 2024 season.
Given this backdrop, Verstappen’s cautious outlook for the upcoming 2025 F1 season is understandable. In anticipation of the season’s kickoff at Australia’s Albert Park Circuit on March 14, Verstappen is playing it safe.
Speaking to the media, including Total-Motorsport.com, Verstappen cautioned, “It can be worse than last year.” However, he expressed satisfaction with the direction of their work, emphasizing the need to see how much they can extract from their efforts.
Despite Verstappen’s positive outlook, the Red Bull star admitted that they are still in the early stages with many areas for improvement. Yet, he stated that he enjoyed the first day of testing, marking it as a significant improvement from the previous year.
Questions abound concerning Red Bull’s technical prowess, as early indications of instability spark concerns about the team’s readiness for the upcoming season. Verstappen’s own test was not without issues, suffering understeer at Turn 11 and veering off-course into the gravel at Turn 4. Despite finishing third fastest, these incidents raise concerns about the team’s ability to resolve persistent issues.
Outside the testing circuit, Verstappen also found himself at the center of controversy during the F1 75 event. The celebratory event, designed to honor the legacy and future of Formula 1, took a dramatic turn when Verstappen and team principal, Christian Horner, were met with loud boos from the crowd.
The negative reaction appeared to be rooted in Verstappen’s contentious relationships with the British media, fellow drivers, and F1 stewards, which have been a consistent theme since his rise to prominence in 2021. The backlash even spurred claims from Verstappen’s father that the champion driver might boycott future F1 75 events, particularly if held in the UK.
In typical Verstappen fashion, he brushed off the incident, suggesting that the drama was beneath him. “Maybe I’m deaf,” Verstappen jested, dismissing the need to further discuss the incident, stating, “It’s not worth my time.”
As Red Bull gears up for the 2025 Formula 1 season, the team will no doubt be working tirelessly to iron out the technical issues. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s cautious approach suggests a keen awareness of the challenges that lie ahead. With all eyes on the upcoming season, the question remains, will Red Bull overcome its stability issues, and will Verstappen maintain his reign as champion?
