Max Verstappen isn’t sugar-coating it. Despite a slew of upgrades for Red Bull’s 2025 Formula 1 car, he’s clear-eyed about the challenges ahead, especially in closing the gap with McLaren, who dominated the race pace at the recent Miami Grand Prix.
At the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen secured pole position but ended up 40 seconds behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. While Red Bull aims for improvement, Verstappen is candid about setting realistic expectations. According to him, the advancements might improve performance, but are unlikely to bridge the gap with McLaren entirely.
Both Verstappen and teammate Yuki Tsunoda will have new upgrades for the upcoming European races. Yet, Verstappen remains cautious, noting, “A little bit. But we have already had a few races with some updates, so this is again a little step forward. Hopefully we find a bit more performance in the car. But I don’t expect, of course, to suddenly close the gap to McLaren.”
The Miami race was a wake-up call for Red Bull, described as ‘depressing’ by team advisor Helmut Marko. The team’s struggles were starkly highlighted as McLaren’s race pace set them in a league of their own. With more upgrades planned for the Spanish Grand Prix, including responses to new regulations on flexing front wings, Red Bull’s path forward is complex.
The technical directive affecting aero elasticity, while significant, isn’t expected to drastically alter McLaren’s current advantage. Verstappen himself is skeptical about its impact, clarifying, “That will not give you eight tenths to a second, of course, [which was the gap] at times in Miami.”
McLaren’s mastery in tire management remains a mystery to Red Bull. Verstappen admits there’s no clear timeline for understanding this advantage, and acknowledges it may vary based on track-specific conditions. He reasons that while the advantage might fluctuate, challenges remain, especially with upcoming softer tires in Imola.
Verstappen’s realism paints a picture of a team aware of its limitations but committed to incremental progress. Red Bull faces a mix of technical challenges and competitive uncertainties, but with a strategic focus on gradual improvements, they’re navigating a challenging F1 landscape.
