Red Bull calls Verstappen to crisis talks as the RB21 struggles early. Urgent upgrades now key to staying in the fight.
Red Bull is pushing for urgent upgrades to its 2025 Formula 1 car, the RB21, after a tough start to the season.
Liam Lawson has struggled to get up to speed, and even Max Verstappen missed out on the podium in Shanghai this weekend. Originally scheduled to stay home with partner Kelly Piquet as they await the birth of their first child, Verstappen has now been called in for emergency meetings at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes.
“Max will be at the factory to go over where we’re falling short,” confirmed Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko. “We know we need to improve quickly, but we also understand that takes time. The car reacts differently depending on the track and the tyres.”
Marko added that Verstappen’s private jet will remain on standby in case he needs to fly back to Monaco urgently.
Facing Pressure from McLaren
With McLaren showing strong early-season form, Red Bull knows it’s under pressure to respond. “Everyone has to contribute to improving this car,” Marko said. “McLaren is ahead of us, and we need to find a way to close that gap.”
Verstappen’s presence at the technical meetings is seen as crucial. “It’s hard to know what needs changing when the issues aren’t clearly defined yet,” Marko explained. “We’ve got 10 days, and we hope to learn more from the data and these meetings to be more competitive by Suzuka. But we definitely need upgrades.”
Technical Setback, Not Just Setup Issues
Red Bull admits the problem is deeper than just car setup or operating windows. “We have a technical deficit right now. We’ll be talking about how to build a car that can win again — and how long that will take,” said Marko.
With no Grand Prix this weekend, Red Bull plans to fast-track some of the updates originally scheduled for later in the season. That’s critical, as the next three races come back-to-back.
“We’re working on new parts, but it all depends on how well they work together — and how effective they are. If they deliver, we’ll be back in the fight quickly. But we need to see it on track first. Until then, the goal is to score as many points as possible.”
Verstappen Staying Focused
After two rounds, Verstappen trails Lando Norris by 8 points in the drivers’ standings. Meanwhile, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has already ruled Red Bull out of the constructors’ title race, citing Lawson’s performance.
Marko disagreed. “Yes, we’re concerned, but we’re not giving up,” he said.
Despite finishing only fourth in Shanghai, Verstappen sounded relatively upbeat — though he did question the team’s race strategy.
“In the first stint, I drove exactly how the team wanted me to, managing the tyres. I warned them we’d be too slow, and that’s what happened. But I followed the plan,” he said.
Asked about Marko’s comment that the team is ‘worried,’ Verstappen was blunt: “It’s not just about being worried — we just need to get to work.”
“We know we’re not as strong as some teams right now. That’s what we need to fix.”
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Verstappen Rushes In As Red Bull Battles Crisis
Verstappen Rushes In As Red Bull Battles Crisis
