With a smoother, smarter car under him, Max Verstappen is poised to chase history — and Red Bull is backing him all the way.
Red Bull has laid the groundwork for a strong 2025 Formula 1 season, and their confidence in the RB21 is clear. The team has built what they call a “dynamic platform for development” — and it all started with an intense pre-season testing program.
Team Principal Christian Horner revealed that Red Bull pushed the limits during testing in Bahrain to give Max Verstappen the best possible understanding of the RB21. The goal? Fast, precise feedback for engineers to fine-tune and evolve the car quickly.
The RB21 is based on last year’s RB20 — a car that helped Verstappen secure his fourth world title. However, the RB20 struggled with balance for much of the season. Red Bull believes those issues traced back to some of the technical decisions made in 2023 under legendary designer Adrian Newey.
Now, with Verstappen aiming for a historic fifth consecutive championship — a feat only achieved by Michael Schumacher — Horner believes the team is in a better place.
“In Bahrain, we made big setup changes on purpose. We pushed things to the edge to really understand the car’s behavior,” Horner said. “This car feels much calmer than the RB20. It’s giving us a solid base to build on throughout the season.”
RB21 Stability Sparks Hope Ahead of Shanghai Showdown
That stability is key. A smoother, more predictable car means faster progress in development — something Red Bull plans to take full advantage of in the coming races.
“Max has already built a strong connection with the RB21, and the first upgrades are coming soon — probably within the next three to five races — to address the early weaknesses we’ve identified.”
Looking ahead, Horner is cautiously optimistic, especially after seeing how the RB21 performed at Melbourne’s Albert Park — a track where Red Bull has rarely shined.
“It’s hard to set firm goals before China, but Albert Park has never been kind to us, even in our best years. Winning only twice in 20 years shows how tricky that track can be for us.”
As the team prepares for the Shanghai Grand Prix, they see it as a key test — both for the RB21 and for how it stacks up against strong rivals like McLaren.
“Shanghai will give us a clearer picture of the car’s limits. It’s more representative of the upcoming tracks, unlike Bahrain with its unusual surface. We expect McLaren to be strong, but we’re looking forward to seeing how the balance plays out.”
The real fight begins now — and Red Bull believes the RB21 is ready for it.
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Red Bull’s RB21: A Calmer Beast Built for Title Domination Red Bull’s RB21: A Calmer Beast Built for Title Domination
