Horner issues Red Bull statement as FIA announce l...

Red Bull Faces Unexpected Struggles as Horner Opens Up After Bahrain GP

Red Bull Racing’s 2025 Formula 1 season has not started as planned, and following a difficult weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix, team principal Christian Horner has addressed the mounting concerns. Despite their dominance in previous seasons, Red Bull has been plagued by a mix of technical glitches and operational challenges, bringing their supremacy into question.

The team entered the season with high expectations, especially with Max Verstappen looking to extend his legacy as a three-time World Champion. However, the opening races have told a different story. Verstappen has only secured one race win so far, a stark contrast to his commanding performances in 2023 and 2024. At the Bahrain GP, he could manage only a sixth-place finish after battling poor grip and tire issues throughout the race. Meanwhile, newly promoted teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who replaced Sergio Pérez, finished ninth, marking his first points for the senior team.

Tsunoda’s progress, although still modest, showed signs of improvement in Bahrain. But overall, Red Bull’s performance left much to be desired. Verstappen’s complaints over the team radio — particularly about grip and tire degradation — highlighted how far the team is from its usual standards. Slow pit stops for both drivers added to the woes, leading to speculation about internal issues and even rumors of a crisis meeting within the team.

Horner, however, remained composed while addressing the media. He acknowledged that the team had faced two main problems during the Bahrain weekend — brake and balance issues — and revealed that a wire-related problem in the pit lane had also hampered operations. According to Horner, these problems, while serious, had been partially hidden in earlier races thanks to smart setup strategies, particularly at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. Bahrain, however, exposed these vulnerabilities fully.

“This race clearly showed some weaknesses that we have, and we need to improve them,” Horner admitted. “We know where the problems are, but finding and implementing the solutions takes time.”

Verstappen, on the other hand, did not hide his frustration. Known for his intensity and drive, he described the Bahrain GP as a weekend where “basically, everything went wrong,” suggesting deeper concerns within the team about their current trajectory.

Red Bull’s struggle has opened the door for rivals to close the gap. Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren have all shown competitive pace in the early races, putting additional pressure on Red Bull to recover quickly. After two years of near-total domination, the Milton Keynes-based outfit is now in unfamiliar territory — having to play catch-up.

Tsunoda, too, is under growing scrutiny. Though his ninth-place finish was a step forward, he will need to improve rapidly to justify his promotion to the main team. Red Bull has never hesitated to make driver changes if expectations aren’t met, and with other talented drivers waiting in the wings, Tsunoda’s seat is far from secure.

Looking ahead, the upcoming races will be critical for Red Bull. They need to translate their internal evaluations into real progress — both technically and operationally. Horner remains confident that the team can turn things around, but in Formula 1, momentum can shift rapidly. Red Bull now faces a crucial stretch that could define their 2025 season.

Whether Horner’s confidence is warranted or overly optimistic will soon become clear. For now, Red Bull must confront a reality they haven’t faced in years — the need to fight back from behind.