Verstappen: The RB21 cannot be worse than last year

Max Verstappen may have clinched his fourth world title in 2024, but history will not remember this season as a walk in the park. After an ultra-dominant first half of the year, Red Bull saw its performance gradually collapse, allowing McLaren and Ferrari to catch up with the Austrian team. Result: only two wins in the last 14 races, questionable on-track balance, and a car far from being a benchmark.

« It can’t be worse than last year », states Verstappen about the RB21 on the sidelines of the 2025 pre-season testing in Bahrain. His words are certainly clear. The Dutchman hasn’t forgotten the struggles of 2024 and aims to bounce back with this RB21. « I think the direction in which we are working is the right one », he adds. The goal is simple: avoid another disappointment.

A better RB21 « everywhere », but caution

If Verstappen displays a certain optimism, he remains nonetheless cautious. Although the RB21 seems more accomplished, the real race conditions will need to be awaited to judge its performance. “We just have to follow this path and see what we can get out of it. For now, it’s a bit early, we are still discussing many things and we want to improve them,” he tempers. The biggest change compared to 2024? The enjoyment behind the wheel. “Yesterday, I enjoyed myself and that’s already a big difference compared to last year,” admits the reigning champion. A statement that speaks volumes about the difficulties encountered with the RB20.

At Red Bull, it seems they have learned lessons from the past. After a nightmare end to the 2024 season, the team worked hard to correct the flaws in their car, with the direct involvement of the driver. Indeed, Verstappen himself took an active role in the development of the new car to bring his driving expertise to the engineers who worked tirelessly this winter. Some cars don’t need much influence. For me and the team, at some point last year, we knew something was happening, he explains.

His feeling was decisive in the direction of the development of the RB21. « Of course, certain things had to be settled, and that’s why a number of things were changed », he confides. Verstappen is now keen to make his technical contribution to the team, with a clear understanding of his needs: « So I give my opinion on what I need, the car has to go faster, and that’s what we’re trying to apply. » It seems obvious, but it’s still necessary to succeed in turning this intention into concrete results on the track.

A first real test in Australia

It remains to be seen if this RB21 will live up to its promises. The winter tests give a first impression, but the real test will be Melbourne. « We must now see how the car performs in Australia, which is a completely different track from Bahrain », reminds Verstappen.

If Red Bull wants to regain its untouchable status, it will have to prove right from the first Grand Prix that its development is heading in the right direction. Facing a McLaren and Ferrari sharper than ever, the Austrian team cannot afford to make mistakes.

Meet in Melbourne for the first verdict!