Red Bull confesses its F1 car is tailored to Max’s style, leaving teammates struggling in a machine only he can master.
After Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson might be next in line. But is the Dutch driver truly that much better – consistently putting 5 to 8 tenths between himself and the others?
Probably not. The truth seems to lie elsewhere: in the very DNA of Red Bull Racing’s car design.
More and more, team boss Christian Horner is admitting what many suspected – the RB21 is tailor-made for Verstappen’s driving style.
“Max is very clear about what makes a car fast. He wants a super strong front end and razor-sharp turn-in,” Horner explained. “That naturally makes the rear end more unstable, which for most drivers kills confidence. But that’s exactly where Max thrives.”
In other words: Red Bull is building a car that only one man can fully exploit.
“He’s constantly pushing for more front-end grip,” says Horner. “And naturally, we follow the feedback of our fastest driver. That’s what shapes the car’s development.”
That philosophy has brought Red Bull incredible success – 122 wins and counting. But it’s also made life incredibly difficult for anyone not named Verstappen.
A Car Only One Man Can Drive?
The ideal second driver at Red Bull, then, would need to have the same taste in car setup: a front-heavy, on-the-edge machine that feels unstable to most, but alive in Verstappen’s hands.
So why not try to balance the car better – make it more driveable for others?
Horner explains:
“Sure, it’s easier to find the limit in a car with more understeer. But it’s also slower. Back in early 2022, we had a more stable car with a lot of understeer – Max hated it. Once we shifted the balance in Spain, Max took off… and Checo started to struggle.”
The team insists it’s not about designing a car just for one driver – they’re simply chasing pure speed, using the best data available. It just so happens that Verstappen’s feedback leads the way.
What About Liam Lawson?
Could Liam Lawson be the next victim of this Verstappen-centric car philosophy? Max himself hinted recently in China that Lawson might perform better in the more forgiving Racing Bulls (RB) car.
“I won’t get into speculation,” Horner replied. “But the RB car is more stable on corner entry. It likely has a bit more understeer, which makes it easier to handle. That said, the pace over long runs is clearly different compared to our main car.”
Lawson has struggled to adapt – and the team knows it.
“He’s clearly not comfortable right now. We’ve made some major setup changes to help him, especially after his poor grid position. He’s under massive pressure, and the media only adds to that.”
“There’s still potential in Liam. We just haven’t unlocked it yet. But yeah – it’s tough for him right now, and I really feel for the guy.”
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Why No One Can Tame Verstappen’s Red Bull Why No One Can Tame Verstappen’s Red Bull
