2025 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[Bill]

Asking hadjah and yuki give Max free air cost them dearly , it gave sainz free position those small points are important for small team like vcarb .max as about 5 sound behind that was unnecessary.

[Bill]

I agree the lockup cost Max a bit but I'm not entirely sure if it cost him so much pace to basically allow Lando to be in his DRS for so many laps especially with dirty air not clearing up in these walled tracks. I think McLaren would have been extremely quick in clean air but yeah the lock up is indeed a very good point that potentially cost Max some solid pace.

Max was on 7 laps older tires, that had a hard outlap and flat spot on them. Mclaren was fast (faster than Mercedes imo) but Red Bull was right there or just a tenth behind. Not anything like the 1+ second a lap drubbing from last year. It doesn't matter anyway. This is a Mclaren circuit and they finished in front. Mclaren's theoretical pace didn't earn them anything.

Lando hounding Max within a second for 20 laps tells me something different. That was more than just sub-optimal tyres. The McLaren still has the race pace advantage due to their incredibly low deg.

redbull have never been quick in a street track were downforce is king ,look at Hungary they is nothing new there

[AR3-GP]

I agree the lockup cost Max a bit but I'm not entirely sure if it cost him so much pace to basically allow Lando to be in his DRS for so many laps especially with dirty air not clearing up in these walled tracks. I think McLaren would have been extremely quick in clean air but yeah the lock up is indeed a very good point that potentially cost Max some solid pace.

Max was on 7 laps older tires, that had a hard outlap and flat spot on them. Mclaren was fast (faster than Mercedes imo) but Red Bull was right there or just a tenth behind. Not anything like the 1+ second a lap drubbing from last year. It doesn't matter anyway. This is a Mclaren circuit and they finished in front. Mclaren's theoretical pace didn't earn them anything.

Lando hounding Max within a second for 20 laps tells me something different. That was more than just sub-optimal tyres. The McLaren still has the race pace advantage due to their incredibly low deg.

Yes I think Mclaren still have a deg advantage. We saw that in Monza, but Singapore is a Mclaren track. The coming tracks are more suited to the RB21. The corner speeds are faster and we get something like Monza where Max is quick enough to compensate for the additional tire deg over the stint.

Max beat both Mclarens in COTA and Qatar last year with a much worse car. What do you think will happen now?

[Vettel165]

Looking back I have to be satisfied with the result today. Russel actually helped Max in some way. Mclaren was the fastest car on this high-downforce track again, both drivers were just bad in Q3. Max and Russel just pushed much harder on that one lap, they both did amazing laps. Otherwise in clean air, Mclaren would win it again here. Easily it could have been a win by Norris and Oscar behind. Now we actually gained some points on both drivers in the standings on our worse track.

1. Also starting on softs might have been a good thing in some way. My opinion was different before, but now I see Piastri would probably jump Max if he was on the medium tyres. The left side of the grid had very little grip. Also it rained before. We were lucky to be just ahead of Alonso while going into the box. also Ferrari called Hamilton just at the right time.

2. Max defence with an inferior car was amazing, even with a small mistake while pushing to chase Russel.

3. The gap to Lando is now 41 points, and to Piastri 63. Norris is actually slightly faster driver in the last races. We have 6 races remaining, but because of sprint races thats points for 7 full races. Lets say in the old standings thats 70 points in the new 174 points. Actually nothing changed after Singapore, Max needs at least one more DNF for Piastri to have a fighting chance.

4. Now Max has to make a miracle and win all 6 races coming up, with Lando always coming in second place. The car should be very strong in Austin. In Austin, Mexico, Brasil which are the next races Verstappen is usually very fast, can bring that extra performance if the car is in the right window. Also remember it could rain in Brasil. The chances for the title are still lets say around 3-5%, but everything has to go according to plan. It might make this season more interesting, if it doesnt happen, then I will just praise Max and the team for trying their best, fighting until the end. Never stop believing...

[pantherxxx]

I agree the lockup cost Max a bit but I'm not entirely sure if it cost him so much pace to basically allow Lando to be in his DRS for so many laps especially with dirty air not clearing up in these walled tracks. I think McLaren would have been extremely quick in clean air but yeah the lock up is indeed a very good point that potentially cost Max some solid pace.

Max was on 7 laps older tires, that had a hard outlap and flat spot on them. Mclaren was fast (faster than Mercedes imo) but Red Bull was right there or just a tenth behind. Not anything like the 1+ second a lap drubbing from last year. It doesn't matter anyway. This is a Mclaren circuit and they finished in front. Mclaren's theoretical pace didn't earn them anything.

Lando hounding Max within a second for 20 laps tells me something different. That was more than just sub-optimal tyres. The McLaren still has the race pace advantage due to their incredibly low deg.

Singapore represents the worst-case scenario for tyre degradation — slow corners, minimal airflow, intense heat, high humidity, and constant traction demands. That’s why McLaren enjoyed a race pace advantage there: their car manages tyre temperatures better than anyone else. But at circuits like COTA, where overheating is far less of a factor, that strength won’t translate as much. Red Bull, meanwhile, no longer shows any clear weaknesses — the RB21 is now at least as strong as the McLaren in both slow and fast corners.

[Valeo]

Wonder if the Spa/Silverstone RW might work at COTA? Might be a bit too risky I guess

[Badger]

I agree that COTA is better, but it’s not all good. The McLaren loves long radius corners where they can use their mid corner strength. COTA has a lot more of those than Singapore. They will be very strong there too, and likely faster towards the end of stints. Max will need to lead early and control from the front, preferably with a buffer to the McLarens.

The track I have the least hope for is Mexico. Another deg track where RB will be struggling relative to McLaren in the race.

[Sergej]

I still believe Verstappen can win the championship. He just needs to win the remaining races, while Russell and Norris consistently take points off Piastri — then it’s definitely possible. Singapore was probably Red Bull’s weakest track, since the circuit’s endless corners don’t allow the tires to cool properly, leading to overheating. That gave McLaren a clear race-pace advantage, but the upcoming tracks should suit Red Bull much better.

that's quite a big need to be a "just need"

[AR3-GP]

I agree that COTA is better, but it’s not all good. The McLaren loves long radius corners where they can use their mid corner strength. COTA has a lot more of those than Singapore. They will be very strong there too, and likely faster towards the end of stints. Max will need to lead early and control from the front, preferably with a buffer to the McLarens.

The track I have the least hope for is Mexico. Another deg track where RB will be struggling relative to McLaren in the race.

Mexico is like Baku without bumps. Long straights and slow or 90 degree corners with 1 high speed "esses" section. Given what Red Bull have shown, it should suit them.

[Badger]

Asking hadjah and yuki give Max free air cost them dearly , it gave sainz free position those small points are important for small team like vcarb .max as about 5 sound behind that was unnecessary.

Hadjar had blue flags.

[Badger]

I agree that COTA is better, but it’s not all good. The McLaren loves long radius corners where they can use their mid corner strength. COTA has a lot more of those than Singapore. They will be very strong there too, and likely faster towards the end of stints. Max will need to lead early and control from the front, preferably with a buffer to the McLarens.

The track I have the least hope for is Mexico. Another deg track where RB will be struggling relative to McLaren in the race.

Mexico is like Baku without bumps. Long straights and slow or 90 degree corners with 1 high speed "esses" section. Given what Red Bull have shown, it should suit them.

Except it has peak wings, meaning the car balance will be unfavourable for RB who like running smaller wings for front-rear balance. It’s also higher deg.

[AR3-GP]

I agree that COTA is better, but it’s not all good. The McLaren loves long radius corners where they can use their mid corner strength. COTA has a lot more of those than Singapore. They will be very strong there too, and likely faster towards the end of stints. Max will need to lead early and control from the front, preferably with a buffer to the McLarens.

The track I have the least hope for is Mexico. Another deg track where RB will be struggling relative to McLaren in the race.

Mexico is like Baku without bumps. Long straights and slow or 90 degree corners with 1 high speed "esses" section. Given what Red Bull have shown, it should suit them.

Except it has peak wings, meaning the car balance will be unfavourable for RB who like running smaller wings for front-rear balance. It’s also higher deg.

Mexico is at high altitude. Less air density. That means the cars actually only generate Monza levels of downforce, despite the big wings. That’s the reason that cars reach 350km/h in Mexico with huge wings.

[venkyhere]

There is no reason to complain, not winning today is deserved, I think, even if the pace on H was excellent, as they missed running on M. Even if Max managed P1 in turn1, the S would have worked out only if atleast 2 guys around were on S, turned out they all were on M. The gamble on starting with S depended on 'others'. Not a big complaint, just that such things happen to a team that likes to gamble (unlike McLaren who always play it safe and conservative). Nevertheless, this S starting is exactly what I had expressed my doubts about, before the race started.

Anyway, considering the big picture, the car has definitely improved. After the race-ruining wing choices debacles at Silverstone and Spa (went for the opposite weather) and the disaster at Hungary, this is the result :

Zandvoort : P2
Monza : P1
Baku : P1
Singapore : P2

Would the team and Max and the people in this thread have taken this, before the summer break ?
A resounding yes.
The only reason there is some disappointment about today, is because of the huge hype that Max is in WDC contention. It's not good from a psychology perspective, to cling onto a hope that heavily relies on miracle (McLaren crashing). That miracle already happened in Baku.

[AR3-GP]

It’s disappointing not to win because Mclaren and its drivers look rattled since Baku. Today Norris drove into Piastri at T3. Piastri had a 6 second pitstop. Piastri was whining to the team, and the tension is rising between the two drivers. They will take each other out in one of these last races. It’s coming.

[Badger]

Mexico is like Baku without bumps. Long straights and slow or 90 degree corners with 1 high speed "esses" section. Given what Red Bull have shown, it should suit them.

Except it has peak wings, meaning the car balance will be unfavourable for RB who like running smaller wings for front-rear balance. It’s also higher deg.

Mexico is at high altitude. Less air density. That means the cars actually only generate Monza levels of downforce, despite the big wings. That’s the reason that cars reach 350km/h in Mexico with huge wings.

I know, but the balance front to rear will be the same as on a track like Singapore as you bolt on your biggest wings front and rear. On a track like Baku you have a small rear wing and that gives you more scope to add front grip by putting on say a medium front wing. Think about it in terms of front to rear balance instead of downforce generation.