Emergency meeting at Red Bull after the Chinese Grand Prix
After a complicated Chinese Grand Prix, Red Bull called a crisis meeting in Milton Keynes. Max Verstappen is struggling to keep up and Liam Lawson has yet to score any points. The Austrian team must quickly find solutions to reverse the trend.
The 2025 F1 season is not starting as expected for Red Bull. After a lackluster Chinese Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen finished a distant fourth and Liam Lawson struggled in 12th position, the Austrian team is sounding the alarm. “This week, there is a meeting in Milton Keynes to discuss when and how we can close the gap,” said Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, to Sky DE, confirming the urgency of the situation.
The message is clear: Red Bull wants to understand why the RB21 no longer dominates as it did in 2023 and 2024. And above all, how to reverse the trend before the situation becomes critical.
A Max in trouble and a Lawson under pressure
If Verstappen once again managed to limit the damage with a fourth place, it is especially Liam Lawson’s performance that is concerning. Since the beginning of the season, the New Zealand driver has struggled to adapt to his car and has yet to score a single point.
His weekend in China? A nightmare. After an already complicated start to the season in Australia, where he crashed in the rain and had to start last in the race, Lawson suffered throughout the weekend in Shanghai. Result: a 12th place with no opportunity to fight for a top 10 finish.
On his side, Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls driver, seems ready to seize the opportunity. Right after qualifying for the Grand Prix, he stated: “I would be 100% ready to step into the Red Bull for the Japanese Grand Prix if necessary.” A message that suggests internal market movements, which could quickly reshuffle the deck if Lawson doesn’t quickly get back on track…
In addition to Lawson’s difficulties, Red Bull also has to manage the current limitations of its car. Marko pointed out a major problem that cost Verstappen dearly at the Chinese Grand Prix: the medium tires. « We lost the race with the first set of mediums », explains Marko.
In short, the RB21 performed well with the hard tires: « On the hard tires, we were as fast as the leaders », he adds. But as soon as it was necessary to switch to medium tires, the car couldn’t match the pace of the leading cars.
The Red Bull awakening, when will it be?
With Max Verstappen having only 36 points in the standings and a second driver not scoring any points, Red Bull can no longer afford to lose ground. The emergency meeting scheduled in Milton Keynes must provide answers.
Until then, it’s about scoring as many points as possible. We are worried, but it’s not like we’re throwing in the towel, assures Marko. There’s no question of the Austrian team giving up, but they must act quickly. Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren are waiting in the wings and are likely to take advantage of any misstep by Red Bull.
