BREAKING :Red Bull NEED to change their driver’ – Chinese Grand Prix Hot Takes… Read more
Chinese Grand Prix: Piastri Triumphs as Red Bull Faces Major Dilemma
The 2025 Formula 1 season’s second race in China saw Oscar Piastri claim an impressive victory, securing a dominant weekend for McLaren. After a disappointing ninth-place finish in his home race in Australia due to a mistake in wet conditions, the Australian driver bounced back in style. Piastri not only secured pole position but also converted it into a race win, demonstrating his exceptional skill and control in Shanghai.
McLaren teammate Lando Norris followed closely behind, crossing the finish line in second place to secure a one-two finish for the Woking-based team. Completing the podium was Mercedes’ George Russell, who put in a solid performance to take third place.
While McLaren celebrated their success, Red Bull found themselves in a difficult position. The reigning champions are struggling with a familiar issue—their car appears to be tailored exclusively to Max Verstappen’s driving style. This has been a long-standing challenge for the team, but with the 2025 season shaping up to be more competitive than ever, it has become a critical concern.
Verstappen is widely regarded as the most talented driver on the current grid, and Red Bull has built its car around his aggressive, high-risk driving approach. However, this has created problems when it comes to their second driver. Liam Lawson, who was given the full-time seat alongside Verstappen this year, has struggled to adapt to the RB21, failing to extract the performance needed to keep Red Bull competitive in the constructors’ championship.
This presents Red Bull with a major decision to make. With the McLaren duo proving to be a strong title-contending force and Mercedes showing solid improvements, Red Bull’s dominance is under threat. Verstappen alone is unlikely to secure enough points to defend the team’s titles, and with Lawson unable to match his teammate’s pace, the team’s chances of success this season look slim.
The team now faces two possible solutions: either make significant adjustments to the car to make it more accessible for both drivers or find a replacement for Lawson who can better handle the current setup. However, altering the car could compromise Verstappen’s advantage, which is a risk Red Bull may not be willing to take.
With the Japanese Grand Prix approaching, Red Bull must act quickly to address their issues. If they fail to find a solution, their hopes of reclaiming both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships may be out of reach. McLaren’s resurgence and Mercedes’ steady progress mean the competition at the top is fiercer than ever, and Red Bull can no longer rely solely on Verstappen to keep them in the fight.
