Red Bull targets gradual improvements in Imola as they battle McLaren, avoiding bold overhauls to fix RB21 cornering issues.
After the first quarter of the season, Max Verstappen has only managed one win from the first six races, a dominant showing at the Japanese Grand Prix. McLaren, on the other hand, has taken the remaining five, with Oscar Piastri claiming four victories and Lando Norris one.
Now sitting third in the Drivers’ Championship, and trailing McLaren in the Constructors’ standings, Red Bull’s hopes of catching up no longer rest on a game-changing upgrade. Instead, the team is focused on refining the RB21 through a series of smaller, steady developments.
This gradual evolution began with tweaks to the car’s floor in Saudi Arabia. In Miami, Red Bull introduced adjustments to the front and rear suspension, subtle changes that didn’t require official declaration due to their limited aerodynamic impact, along with a new floor design tested by Verstappen.
Further small-scale updates are expected at Imola, including the rollout of Verstappen’s new floor spec to Yuki Tsunoda.
“It won’t be a magic fix for all our issues,” said Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan, addressing ongoing struggles with the car’s handling in medium and low-speed corners. “These are incremental upgrades. We understand the problem, but solving it isn’t straightforward. Honestly, it may never fully disappear.”
“Can we reduce its impact and gain lap time? Absolutely.”
“There are a lot of smart people working hard in Milton Keynes. We’re focused on the right areas, and the improvements will come.”
From the Red Bull Garage
F1 Shock? Verstappen Linked With 2026 Sabbatical Plan
Red Bull consultant Franz Tost says Max Verstappen might skip the 2026 F1 season to watch the new regulations play out.
Max Verstappen might step away from Formula 1 at the end of 2025, at least temporarily. That’s according to long-time Red Bull advisor and former Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost, who still works closely with the Red Bull camp from Austria.
Fresh from racing in Miami and welcoming the birth of his daughter Lily, the four-time world champion quietly headed to Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife, one of motorsport’s most legendary and demanding circuits.
There, Verstappen took part in an official Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) test behind the wheel of a Ferrari 296 GT3, run by Emil Frey Racing under his personal banner, Verstappen.com Racing. While he isn’t yet licensed to race in this category, the goal was clear: earn the DMSB Nordschleife Permit, a requirement for competing in iconic events like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
To keep the session low-profile, the entry was listed under the pseudonym “Franz Hermann.” But the secrecy didn’t last, word quickly spread that Verstappen was behind the wheel.
According to Tost, Verstappen was immediately “two seconds faster than anyone else” in a recent private session using the same car. Now, Tost says a move to Mercedes or Aston Martin isn’t likely, and instead, Verstappen may sit out 2026 altogether.
“It’s been discussed seriously among some of us,” Tost revealed. “I can absolutely imagine Max taking a year off to see who gets the new chassis and engine regulations right. Then he could return in 2027, better informed, with more options.”
“One thing is certain: every team wants Max. He instantly makes any car and crew better. And keeping him away from rivals is a win in itself.”
As for Verstappen, he’s not fueling the rumors. He’s played down the idea of triggering an exit clause in his contract,and even the sabbatical talk.
“I’m signed until 2028,” he said. “After that, it depends on what comes my way and whether it excites me.”
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“Ever since I won my first title, I’ve seen everything else as a bonus. I’ll keep racing as long as I’m enjoying it.”
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