After the first six Formula 1 weekends of 2025, it’s clear that Max Verstappen can match McLaren’s pace over a single lap, but struggles to keep up over a full race distance against the papaya cars.
Verstappen’s ability to push the RB21 to its limits in qualifying has earned him pole positions in Suzuka, Jeddah, and Miami, where tyre wear is not a concern.
McLaren’s MCL39 poses challenges in qualifying due to handling issues and unpredictability on the front axle, affecting their ability to secure ideal lap times.
During races, McLaren excels at managing tire degradation, giving them an advantage over Red Bull, as demonstrated in Bahrain and Miami.
Despite occasional successes in Japan and Saudi Arabia, Red Bull’s structural issues have been exposed in Bahrain and Miami, with significant gaps in performance and tire degradation compared to McLaren.
