Verstappen Concerned: RB21 Struggles More Than Its Predecessor
Max Verstappen has openly voiced his dissatisfaction with Red Bull’s new RB21 car, stating that in some key areas, it performs even worse than last year’s RB20. As the Formula 1 grid heads to Saudi Arabia for the next round, the Dutch driver remains skeptical about any major improvements.
Verstappen had a challenging weekend in Bahrain, finishing a disappointing sixth. He struggled with braking instability and tire overheating—issues that made it difficult for him to maintain race pace. Reflecting on the experience, he indicated that the team still lacks a grip on how to solve the problems plaguing the new car.
Internal tensions at Red Bull appear to be mounting, with reports suggesting that the Bahrain results have triggered crisis talks within the team. Motorsport analyst Ralf Schumacher even hinted that Verstappen might already be considering his future options beyond Red Bull. Meanwhile, Peter Windsor suggested that Verstappen’s performance suffers significantly when the car isn’t perfect, describing him as “just another driver” under pressure.
Brake and Tire Woes Continue
Verstappen admitted that while the brake material change slightly improved the feel, fundamental issues remain: “I still don’t have the confidence I need when braking. The tires heat up too quickly, and I’m losing grip, making it really easy to lock up,” he explained.
He also pointed out that tire degradation seems even worse this season compared to last: “Honestly, it feels like we’ve taken a step backward. Others have clearly improved, but our weekend in Bahrain was definitely below expectations—even worse than last year.”
Doubt Over Jeddah Turnaround
Despite trying a wide range of setups in Bahrain, Red Bull couldn’t find a working solution. Verstappen doubts that things will change drastically for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: “The layout in Jeddah might help a little since it’s less technical, but if tire management is poor, there’s only so much you can do.”
He emphasized how sensitive the RB21 is to even minor setup changes, making it hard to predict how the car will behave from race to race: “We can guess, but with this car, everything can change with the smallest tweak.”
