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Unveiling F1 2025 Pre-Season Insights: Red Bull Struggles, McLaren Leads, and Potential Controversies

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
February 28, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Unveiling F1 2025 Pre-Season Insights: Red Bull Struggles, McLaren Leads, and Potential Controversies

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 28: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 on track during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 28, 2025 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202502280535 // Usage for editorial use only //

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The curtain has dropped on Formula 1 pre-season testing, with Mercedes’ George Russell laying down the fastest lap on the final day. Simultaneously, Williams’ Carlos Sainz emerged as the overall fastest driver. However, these results barely scratch the surface of the real narrative that unfolded over the three-day rendezvous in Bahrain.

A deep dive into the hundreds of laps, countless hours of trackside observations, and team and driver interviews reveals a more complex picture. Red Bull, for instance, appears to have hit a few bumps in the road. Despite a late surge by Max Verstappen that placed him second-fastest on the final day, the team was already playing catch up due to a water leak that limited Liam Lawson’s full day in the car on Thursday.

Whispers of a trait of understeer leading to exit oversteer, familiar from 2024, were still circulating on Friday. It appears Red Bull was ill-prepared to assemble a race run, with Verstappen experimenting with various set-ups, wing and floor combinations, and hemorrhaging precious track time in the process.

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A two-hour trackside observation at day’s end revealed Verstappen making three separate runs with flo-vis on a sidepod. This suggested Red Bull was still running tests, searching for a solution, right up until the final moments of testing. Pierre Wache, the team’s technical director, admitted the test was less smooth than anticipated. Wache also hinted that the progress made was not as substantial as Red Bull had hoped.

Our analysis of long-run laps hints at a slight but significant advantage for McLaren’s MCL39, this time with Oscar Piastri behind the wheel instead of Lando Norris. The McLaren car has caught the attention of many for its speed and the movement of its rear wing. However, there are concerns about rear instability, a problem well-documented on day two. Despite this, McLaren appears to be the early favorite entering the season.

Mercedes and Ferrari, while not as eye-catching as McLaren, had closely matched performances throughout the week, both on short and long runs. Mercedes’ car seems to be more user-friendly, albeit with a tendency to lock up. Ferrari, on the other hand, might have a bit more pace up its sleeve.

Russell, who claimed the fastest lap on the third day, described the test as “seamless”. Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, echoed this sentiment, stating that the team could be pleased with the results. He noted that the team had worked hard to address the weaknesses of the W15, and the early signs indicated that significant strides had been made with the 2025 challenger.

Sauber, on the other hand, consistently underperformed. Both short and long runs left much to be desired, and the car seemed uncomfortably stiff. The team struggled with the initial set-up on the first morning, and the lack of compliance suggests a narrow set-up window.

Williams, while not truly the fastest car post-testing, could be the most improved. The car performed well over all three days, even if its peak performance coincided with lighter conditions or higher engine modes. Although team figures downplayed its potential strength, it left a strong impression and is expected to compete with Alpine for a Q3 berth and points in Australia.

Aston Martin will have a lot to digest from this test. The team has a lot to prove this year after a slump last season. However, the observations and data from the test indicate that the car lacks pace, a worrying sign as the team aims to make the car more benign and instill confidence in the drivers.

The test also revived the mini-DRS controversy. Some teams have raised eyebrows over the behavior of rear wings, particularly in the case of Mercedes. Red Bull’s technical director, Wache, pointed out that some teams, including Ferrari and McLaren, could still be exploiting the mini-DRS benefit.

This year’s rookie drivers have also faced challenges due to F1’s limited testing rules, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar facing steeper learning curves than their peers.

Finally, Haas experienced a peculiar bodywork problem that needs to be addressed before the season opener in Melbourne. Furthermore, a series of unusual red flags disrupted the test, including one incident where a stone flicked up by Bearman’s car shattered a window from the trackside gantry.

As the dust from the Bahrain test settles, teams and drivers are left with much to ponder, improve, and strategize before the engines roar back to life for the upcoming season.

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