Red Bull’s Formula 1 team could be facing a rocky start to the 2025 season, according to seasoned sports analyst Martin Brundle. Brundle recently observed that Max Verstappen expressed clear irritation as his RB21 spun out during preliminary testing. As the highly anticipated championship kicks off this Friday in Melbourne, doubts are beginning to cloud over Red Bull’s performance at the Albert Park street circuit.
In pre-season testing, there were no clear indicators of a strong start for Red Bull. Their performance was overshadowed by the McLaren MCL39’s impressive showing, while the Sauber C45 fell short of expectations. Red Bull, the reigning World Champions, scarcely managed to complete the least laps among all participating teams over the three-day period.
Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Wache admitted that the team’s test run was far from smooth. The car’s occasional lack of response added to the team’s mounting concerns. This has led to a palpable sense of anticipation of a fierce tussle for this year’s championship titles among sports pundits, including Brundle.
Brundle anticipates an unforgettable Formula 1 season, with the top four teams – McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes – in an incredibly close competition. However, he pointed out that given Verstappen’s four-season reign, a significant question looms over the upcoming season: How will Red Bull perform?
In the 2023 season, Red Bull dominated with 21 victories in 22 races. However, the team only managed to secure a mere nine wins in the following season, which included a glaring 10-race winless streak. This marked Verstappen and Red Bull’s longest absence from the top position since 2020.
Despite a lackluster pre-season testing, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko confessed they’re trailing McLaren by “two to three-tenths”. Verstappen himself expressed his doubts about fighting for a win in Melbourne, acknowledging that there’s still work to do.
While Red Bull has made some strides in addressing the RB21’s issues, Brundle believes there’s still room for improvement. He noted that Verstappen was visibly frustrated with the car’s performance during the test, which wasn’t promising given the tricky conditions.
Despite the challenges, Brundle still considers Verstappen a contender for the title, attributing this to his speed, talent, and ability to clinch multiple championships. He further emphasized that Verstappen’s key rivals, such as Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri, have yet to seize an F1 World Championship.
As the 2025 Formula 1 season draws near, Brundle’s insights bring to light the intense competition and potential upsets in the making. Regardless of the starting point, the victor of this year’s World Championship will unquestionably deserve the title.
