Red Bull and Verstappen Face Major Challenges After Troubling F1 Testing…read more
Red Bull and Verstappen Face Major Challenges After Troubling F1 Testing
Red Bull Racing finds itself in a difficult position ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season opener in Australia, following a challenging pre-season test in Bahrain. The reigning champions endured multiple setbacks, raising concerns about their competitiveness as they prepare to defend their titles.
Unlike race weekends, pre-season testing isn’t about setting the fastest lap but rather about gathering crucial data and ensuring reliability. Unfortunately for Red Bull, its programme was disrupted on both Thursday and Friday due to technical issues, leaving the team with limited mileage compared to its rivals.
On Thursday, reserve driver Liam Lawson lost valuable track time after an engine water pressure issue forced him back into the garage. The problems continued into Friday when Max Verstappen’s session was cut short due to an oil leak. These setbacks meant Red Bull completed just 304 laps over the three days—the lowest of any team. In comparison, Mercedes racked up 458 laps, highlighting the extent of Red Bull’s struggles.
With only two weeks remaining before the Australian Grand Prix, the Milton Keynes-based outfit is under pressure to resolve its reliability concerns quickly. However, the challenge is intensified by the impressive performance of rival teams, particularly McLaren.
McLaren’s Stunning Pre-Season Form
McLaren emerged as the standout performer in Bahrain, with Lando Norris delivering an eye-catching performance during his Thursday afternoon race simulation. His long-run pace was the most consistent on the grid, suggesting that McLaren may have the early advantage going into the new season.
Further supporting this claim is onboard footage and performance data from both Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Their new car, the MCL39, displayed remarkable stability at high speeds and impressive cornering ability, appearing almost effortless on track.
Although Norris did have a few off-track excursions on Friday morning, these were largely attributed to the strong winds that also caught out other drivers, including Verstappen, who spun during his session.
McLaren’s strong testing form has led many to believe it could be the team to beat in the opening races. However, Red Bull is not writing itself off just yet.
Verstappen: “There’s Still Work to Do”
Despite the setbacks, Verstappen remained relatively calm about Red Bull’s performance.
“I think we had a decent day,” Verstappen reflected. “We had a few little problems, but overall, we completed quite a bit of what we wanted to do. I think it was not bad, but at the same time, there is still work to do.”
The Dutchman admitted that Red Bull is not the fastest team heading into the new season but also noted that testing results can be misleading.
“It was what I kind of expected—we just keep on working and trying to improve. Hopefully, we will be ready for Melbourne, learn a bit more, and see where we are at,” he added.
Verstappen acknowledged that Red Bull has ground to make up but remained optimistic about the team’s ability to turn things around before the first race.
Who Are the Favorites for 2025?
Based on pre-season testing, Red Bull is not the outright favorite heading into the Australian Grand Prix.
McLaren appears to have an early advantage, with Mercedes also showing strong potential. The Silver Arrows, led by George Russell and highly rated rookie Kimi Antonelli, completed the most laps and looked competitive in cooler conditions. However, their true pace will only become clear when racing in hotter climates, like those expected in Melbourne.
Ferrari remains an unknown factor. While Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz showed promising speed over short runs, their long-run performance was inconsistent, putting them behind McLaren in terms of race pace.
Ultimately, pre-season testing does not always reflect the final pecking order, as teams often hide their true performance levels. However, based on the data available, Red Bull has serious work to do before it can challenge McLaren at the front.
With just under two weeks to address its reliability concerns and fine-tune its car, the defending champions face a tough battle to maintain their dominance. The Australian Grand Prix will provide the first real answers, as teams finally unleash their full potential on race day.
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