Red Bull’s racing performance is under scrutiny as Max Verstappen, the Dutch maestro who has been a dominant force in Formula 1, expressed his apprehensions following a challenging qualifying session and sprint at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. Verstappen’s worries stem from the fear that Red Bull is losing ground in the fiercely competitive Formula 1 field, potentially falling to fourth place behind the likes of McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
Verstappen’s struggles came to the fore during the Saturday morning 19-lap sprint. Despite starting alongside British racing prodigy Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen was unable to keep pace with the stalwart. His woes were further exacerbated by unusually high front tyre wear, which paved the way for Oscar Piastri of McLaren to overtake him.
The qualifying session proved to be equally disheartening. Verstappen found himself in fourth position for the main event on Sunday, while his teammate Liam Lawson was battling his own demons, finishing at the back of the pack on the Shanghai grid.
The declining performance of Red Bull has raised red flags, with Verstappen voicing his dissatisfaction post-qualifying. He drew attention to the car’s shortcomings when pitted against the competition. Responding to queries about Red Bull’s current standing in the grid, Verstappen said, “That’s what it feels like for me at the moment. I’ve been feeling really good and relaxed in the car, also in qualifying. I’ve been able to maximise it, but it’s just too slow.”
Verstappen pointed out the unpredictable balance issues that the RB21 seems to be grappling with. The shifting dynamics of the car, lap after lap, have reportedly made tyre management an uphill task. The problem of front tyre degradation, particularly at the Shanghai International Circuit known for its long and demanding corners, has been a recurring issue.
Verstappen added, “Last year we also had a lot of tyre degradation here on the fronts, but now it’s a bit more extreme. It’s clear we’re just not in a very good position, especially compared to McLaren but also the other teams.”
As Ferrari and Mercedes are making their power felt, Verstappen isn’t hopeful about a spot on the podium at the Chinese Grand Prix. He said, “Our tyre degradation was better than FP1 but still not good enough, and if you’re talking about a full race distance, that means you’re dropping back quite far.”
Despite some changes made prior to the qualifying session, Verstappen conceded that these adjustments have yet to yield significant results.
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix will serve as a litmus test for Red Bull as it seeks to address its performance issues and reassert its position among the top contenders. Verstappen’s concerns highlight the pressure the team is under to turn things around. The world will be watching closely to see if Red Bull can rise to the occasion.