Max Verstappen Blasts Red Bull’s Performance, Doubts Closing Gap with McLaren Possible Soon
In a shocking revelation, Max Verstappen has expressed serious doubts regarding Red Bull’s ability to narrow the race pace gap with McLaren in the near future. Despite the anticipation surrounding various upgrades set to debut in the 2025 Formula 1 car, Verstappen believes it is unrealistic to expect an immediate improvement.
At the recent Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen trailed McLaren’s race victor, Oscar Piastri, by a staggering 40 seconds. Despite securing pole position ahead of both McLarens, Red Bull faltered during the race due to McLaren’s dominant race pace. Verstappen’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, is set to receive the latest car upgrades in Imola, providing both drivers with enhanced capabilities for the upcoming European Grand Prix.
Verstappen cautiously shared his expectations for the updated RB25, stating it will offer marginal improvements. However, he remains skeptical about closing the performance gap with McLaren, emphasizing the team’s superior pace. The disappointing Miami race, labeled as “depressing” by team advisor Helmut Marko, has raised concerns within Red Bull about McLaren’s unmatched performance.
As further upgrades are anticipated for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, including a new technical directive targeting flexing front wings, the competition intensifies. While the directive aims to address aero elasticity exploitation, particularly by McLaren, Verstappen remains unconvinced that it will significantly alter the standings.
One pressing issue puzzling Red Bull is McLaren’s exceptional rear tire management in high-degradation races, a skill that has eluded their rivals. Verstappen highlighted the complexity of understanding and replicating McLaren’s tire strategies, indicating a time-consuming process.
The looming challenge for Red Bull is deciphering McLaren’s tire management secrets and resolving the performance disparity on the track. With uncertainties surrounding the impact of upcoming upgrades and technical directives, the Formula 1 landscape remains unpredictable for Red Bull and McLaren’s fierce rivalry.