Jan Lammers, a former Dutch Formula 1 driver, believes in the potential of Red Bull’s updates and emphasizes the need for a McLaren-style ‘replay.’
As the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix approaches, the challenges faced by Red Bull in the 2025 season have come to the forefront. With the exception of Max Verstappen’s outstanding performance in the Japanese GP, where he managed to outshine the McLarens, the rest of the championship has seen the Woking team consistently ahead of their rivals. Speculations about Verstappen’s possible future away from Red Bull have been growing stronger.
Looking at the early stages of this season, it seems improbable for Verstappen to surpass McLaren and clinch his fifth consecutive world title. However, Jan Lammers has a different perspective. In an interview with GPBlog, the Dutchman hinted at a potential turnaround in the championship, depending on Red Bull’s progress. He stated, “It’s the famous crystal ball… But if Red Bull understands everything immediately, yes. It might just take a single one-day wind tunnel session, where they try something immediately and see a result that makes them confident before hitting the track: ‘Well, it’s going to be much better.'”
Lammers referenced McLaren’s impressive improvement last season, culminating in the English team clinching the world championship against all odds. He highlighted the need for a similar transformation within Red Bull at this moment, stating, “We saw it with McLaren – they dared to announce, before their update, that things would improve, and then they really did. That’s the kind of improvement that Red Bull needs right now. Because yes, Max wants to be on a winning car in a winning team, and if Red Bull can’t provide that, it’s natural that he starts looking around.”
The upcoming races will be crucial in determining whether Red Bull can implement the necessary changes to challenge McLaren’s dominance and satisfy Verstappen’s ambitions for success.