P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen doubts Red Bull will be able to fight for victory in the Formula 1 season opener, having expected more from its 2025 car in pre-season testing
Max Verstappen expressed doubts about Red Bull’s chances of winning the Formula 1 season opener, as the team had higher expectations for its 2025 car following pre-season testing. Red Bull aimed to widen the car’s set-up window this year after facing balance issues with upgrades in 2024. The team had an inconsistent test session in Bahrain, conducting numerous experiments on the new RB21 to understand and make changes to the car. Verstappen did not complete a full race simulation, while his teammate, Liam Lawson, faced time loss due to a water leak in the RB21. Red Bull’s position at the end of the test was described as ‘quick, but difficult,’ with Verstappen anticipating a challenging start to the season and hoping for improvements in the following races. Technical director Pierre Wache acknowledged that Red Bull’s pre-season had not been smooth, indicating the team needed to optimize the car’s performance to be able to compete for victories again. Despite setbacks, there is belief within Red Bull that they can overcome challenges and reach their full potential in the upcoming races.
