Breaking:Red Bull receive big Imola boost as Marko poses bur… read more
Red Bull receive big Imola boost as Marko poses bur… read more
Red Bull Racing is gearing up for a pivotal moment in its 2025 Formula 1 campaign, with senior advisor Helmut Marko revealing that crucial upgrades are on the way for the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. After a shaky start to the season and a decline in performance dating back to mid-2024, the team is looking to regain its competitive edge, particularly against McLaren, which has emerged as a dominant force.
While Red Bull’s Max Verstappen demonstrated strong qualifying performance in Miami by clinching pole position, it was evident during the race that the RB21 lacked the race pace necessary to challenge McLaren over a full Grand Prix distance. The Miami result, Marko suggests, was somewhat deceptive. According to him, Verstappen’s pole was largely the result of late errors from the McLaren drivers and Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes, rather than a genuine pace advantage from the Red Bull.
Red Bull’s struggles have been a growing concern since their dominance started to wane last year. The once untouchable team is no longer the clear frontrunner, and with the 2026 regulations looming, teams across the grid are already balancing their current performance with preparations for the future. This places additional pressure on Red Bull. Investing too much time refining the 2025 RB21 risks compromising their efforts to develop a strong 2026 car — a season seen as a reset point due to sweeping regulatory changes.
Despite this challenge, Red Bull remains committed to improving the RB21 in the short term. Marko confirmed in an interview with Austrian outlet oe24 that the team will introduce new components at Imola in a bid to close the gap to McLaren. “That we will get new parts,” Marko said, though he also cautioned that simply bolting on upgrades won’t guarantee success.
Crucially, he posed a pointed question: “The question is whether this will bring us closer to McLaren.” He praised McLaren’s current car, describing it as “incredibly strong in its complexity,” a remark that underscores just how far Red Bull feels it is trailing in terms of overall performance and race execution.
Max Verstappen has also been vocal about the challenges Red Bull is facing. In an April interview with Autosport, the reigning champion admitted that the issues with the RB21 are wide-ranging and vary from one circuit to another. “It’s a combination of things,” he said, “and the issues are also a little bit different again at every track.”
This variability has made it difficult for the team to identify and solve the car’s core problems. The upgrades set for Imola are seen as crucial — potentially make-or-break — as Red Bull hopes to turn the tide before too much of the season slips away.
However, even if the Imola package doesn’t deliver the breakthrough Red Bull is aiming for, the team may catch a break in the near future. The Spanish Grand Prix is expected to bring with it a regulatory change that could shift the balance of power. The FIA will begin tightening enforcement on flexi-wing designs — a feature McLaren has reportedly used to great effect. If the crackdown has the intended effect, it could curb McLaren’s advantage and provide a more level playing field for Red Bull and others.
Ultimately, Red Bull’s situation heading into Imola is one of cautious optimism. With new parts arriving, the team hopes to address its deficiencies and reignite its title fight. But as Marko’s comments make clear, closing the gap to McLaren will take more than hardware upgrades — it will require a fundamental improvement in performance across the board. As the battle for 2025 heats up, Imola may prove a defining moment for Red Bull’s season.
