Red Bull’s Roadblock: Verstappen, Lawson Gear Up for China

Max Verstappen seeks improvements as Red Bull battles tire issues, while Liam Lawson aims to bounce back in Shanghai’s Sprint weekend challenge.

Max Verstappen kicked off the season in Australia with a solid second-place finish, closely trailing Lando Norris at the checkered flag.

However, the four-time world champion is well aware that his Red Bull is currently no match for the McLaren, particularly in race conditions. A key issue in Melbourne was tire degradation, which significantly impacted the RB21’s performance. While Red Bull has planned upgrades for the next three to five races, Verstappen will need to maximize his car’s potential in the meantime—starting with the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix.

“It was great to get the season underway, and I really enjoyed being back on track last week,” Verstappen shared.

“The team learned a lot, and overall, I’m happy with the second-place finish, but we know there’s room for improvement. Tire wear was a big challenge in Melbourne, but we took away some key lessons and have identified areas where we can make progress.”

“In China, we have the first Sprint weekend of the season, so it’s crucial to find the best setup quickly and score as many points as possible. With just one practice session before qualifying, there’s not much time to make big changes, but the team is working hard to improve.”

“I’ve always enjoyed racing in Shanghai—the track offers plenty of overtaking opportunities and has a unique layout. Let’s see what the weekend brings.”

Lawson Looking to Bounce Back

For Liam Lawson, the goal is clear: move on from a tough debut weekend in Australia.

“I can’t wait to get back in the car this weekend. The first race was really challenging, and honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been this eager to get back behind the wheel,” Lawson admitted. “I just want to reset completely and show what we’re capable of.”

“It’s a new track for me, but we’ve done a lot of simulator work and focused heavily on preparation for China. The circuit looks really fun to drive—I watched races here growing up, and it’s exciting to see it back on the calendar. I can’t wait to experience it firsthand.”

“The Sprint format makes things tricky since we have very limited practice time, but we’ll work hard to get up to speed quickly and make the most of FP1. I know the team has been putting in a huge effort, and we’re all motivated to hit the ground running.”

“The pace was promising last weekend, and Max showed that we’re heading in the right direction with the car’s setup. That just makes me even more eager to get on track in Shanghai and push to the limit.”

With the first Sprint weekend of the season adding an extra layer of unpredictability, all eyes will be on Red Bull to see how they adapt and compete on Chinese soil.