2025 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[f1isgood]

I think the track is cooler and we should probably not read into these times too much. Any long run data however would be much appreciated, especially to see degradation.

[Cs98]

I think the times compare pretty favourably to last year. Day 1 2024 late in the afternoon session Max set a 31.3 on the C3 tyre. Today Lawson set a 31.5 on the C2, quite early in the morning.

It’s not that warm, but still, pretty windy and the track is green.

Max's best of day 1 morning was a 32.5 last year too. So 1s of improvement is about right imo

I do believe conditions are a bit better this morning compared to the morning session last year. Temps are a bit lower. But when you account for Max vs Lawson that gap probably goes back up. 8 tenths to a second would not surprise me.

[organic]

Christian Horner was asked whether the RB21 seen in testing will undergo visible changes before arriving in Melbourne

"It's basically the car we'll start the season with- maybe some subtle changes introduced between now and then, but fundamentally it's what we'll be taking to Melbourne."

[Cassius]

Pretty hooked 2nd fast lap on hards by Max, only slightly slower than Antonelli.

The subsequent stint is also looking good, starting with mid 34s and now decreasing to 34.0 and 34.1 before a first mid 33.

Promising.

[pantherxxx]

Red Bull is certainly fast so far. 31.4 on hard tyres and fueled car, this early in the test is good.

[K1Plus]

Christian Horner was asked whether the RB21 seen in testing will undergo visible changes before arriving in Melbourne

"It's basically the car we'll start the season with- maybe some subtle changes introduced between now and then, but fundamentally it's what we'll be taking to Melbourne."

This RB21 seems kinda like a what if Red Bull had more major upgrades for the final few races...
I mean this sounds smart, refine it, and see where you can go from.

[organic]

Red Bull, Mclaren and Mercedes all did a fast lap and a short stint on the C3 tyre in the afternoon.

I'm not saying it's entirely comparative, but it doesn't look bad, especially considering Verstappen lost 4 tenths in just s2 (seemed like the time loss may have come in the high speed with russell in front of him)

[organic]

Marko verdict

Helmut Marko: "What I can say is that Max had a very good long run, and he feels the car better than last year's model, and the new car also reacts more predictably."

"Those were our weaknesses in 2024, so it looks like we've taken a step forward."

[Dee]

Red Bull, Mclaren and Mercedes all did a fast lap and a short stint on the C3 tyre in the afternoon.

I'm not saying it's entirely comparative, but it doesn't look bad, especially considering Verstappen lost 4 tenths in just s2 (seemed like the time loss may have come in the high speed with russell in front of him)
https://i.imgur.com/HJ49vWU.png

https://i.imgur.com/JpulHcm.png

https://i.imgur.com/Xy9eOnd.png

Yes! I saw a car in front of him as he came around and was thinking that would have cost him.

These times look great! I feel a lot better.

[Cs98]

Quick thoughts. The McLaren is very quick, very consistent, with very low deg. Max was the only one who was in the same league when it comes to times on the same tyres. Lando and Max were trading blows in the high 32s on the C3, low 33s on the C2. Likely similar fuel loads (low). On the quali sim the car was not hooked up in the middle sector, too much understeer, more time in it.

[venkyhere]

I really don't like the line "a lot of laps to understand where we can find the time"

Take all this with a pinch of salt. Verstappen is one of those rare drivers, who can maximise any car, even a car that is opposite to his liking. So if the car is 'there', then he will be in the hunt.
RIght now, all the hype train is behind McLaren and Ferrari, I have a feeling RedBull and Mercedes are going to surprise everyone

[Dee]

Quick thoughts. The McLaren is very quick, very consistent, with very low deg. Max was the only one who was in the same league when it comes to times on the same tyres. Lando and Max were trading blows in the high 32s on the C3, low 33s on the C2. Likely similar fuel loads (low). On the quali sim the car was not hooked up in the middle sector, too much understeer, more time in it.

Wasn't the middle sector where he came across another car and was slow on his fastest lap? Or was he consistently slow there during qualy sims?

[kediown]

[Sergej]

Better start with positives than negatives, but I also remember kind of same words after first tests last year so....long way to go.

[organic]

Better start with positives than negatives, but I also remember kind of same words after first tests last year so....long way to go.

But internally to the team Verstappen was not being positive about the car's handling at that time. I doubt that if the car again had similar mistakes or they hadn't fixed the balance issues that Verstappen would be so chipper. He hid the truth from the public before because they were so far ahead & didn't want to let the others know their weakness. Now there isn't that same factor.

Things are different now. Verstappen and Marko are being positive and the times themselves look good

Max Verstappen is very positive after first testing day

"In terms of driving, everything felt good. Only good surprises, so that's positive. We don't know yet where we are in terms of pace, but everything works well and the car does what I want. We have everything under control and that's the only thing we can hope for at the start of my test."

Marko:

“the long runs were very competitive. they were the fastest (of all). the car is more predictable and reacts in a normal way. all the problems we had last year, i think they are now much better or have at least been fixed.”

"Max was also positive. he said the car is a bit more complex, but it's also better as a whole. whatever direction we want to go, the car responds in the right way. also in terms of tyre wear, it looked positive.”