Pierre Wache, the Technical Director at Red Bull, has candidly expressed his disappointment over the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car’s performance in the pre-season testing. The car, dubbed the RB21, has not made as significant progress as anticipated.
Max Verstappen, one of Red Bull’s drivers, initially gave positive feedback on the RB21, stating it performed better than its 2024 predecessor which had numerous issues. Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, reinforced these sentiments, suggesting that minor modifications to the car had eliminated some of the unpredictable elements that marred the performance of the RB20.
However, despite introducing further enhancements, including a revised front wing, the team’s spirits dipped as Verstappen began to explore the RB21’s set-up in more depth. As a result, Wache has admitted there’s room for considerable improvement before the first race, as he believes the car holds untapped potential.
According to Wache, the car did not always perform as expected, though he feels it’s moving in the right direction. The scale of progress, however, has not matched their expectations. This, he said, is something the team needs to address ahead of the first race and as part of their ongoing development strategy.
Red Bull faced a few stumbling blocks during the testing phase. Verstappen was limited to a mere 81 laps on the last day, which meant Red Bull ended the testing with the least mileage. Wache acknowledged the disruptions were more than anticipated, but remained optimistic, stating that it’s preferable to experience such difficulties during testing rather than on race days.
He pointed out that the unusually chilly conditions in Bahrain presented additional challenges as the team attempted to gain a thorough understanding of the RB21’s behavior. Despite the weather conditions not being typical for the track, they pressed on to uncover the car’s potential and comprehend its reaction to different setups.
Wache anticipates a stiff competition from McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, but remains unsure of Red Bull’s standing in relation to these teams. He stated it’s challenging to predict the starting order for Melbourne at present, adding that while four teams, including Red Bull, seem swift, they are focusing more on their own performance rather than comparing themselves to others.
Max Verstappen has previously stated that the Red Bull RB21 “can’t be worse than last year,” which adds another layer to the anticipation surrounding the team’s ongoing development and performance in the upcoming season.
