2025 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[Sergej]

Max applying some pressure on the team

"I've always said that to the team. Unless things go really strangely. But that [a departure] is not my intention, at the moment."

"I want to see how the rest of the season, or at least part of it, goes. That big, decent steps can be taken by the team. The upcoming races are very important. Yes, also for my future. I'm not even talking about next year, but in general. I think everyone in the team realizes that."

[chrisc90]

Anyone’s season in 2026 with the new regulations so can’t see max leaving at end of this year.

[TNTHead]

Nice interview with Max Verstappen by Erik van Haren (in Dutch)
https://archive.vn/ieAj1

It gives some insight in his reasoning:
Red Bull still gives him a good environment for doing more than only 'project F1'
And he expects to be around untill at least 2028. Inspiring to see that he has an independent mind, unlike many others.

If Red Bull bodges this season he will probably look around, alhough he doesn't hint on it.

[pantherxxx]

They need to set up the car for qualifying, and Max can take pole. On this track, overtaking is almost impossible, and with the weather not expected to be very hot, tyre wear should be manageable. If Verstappen can secure pole here, I can see a repeat of Suzuka.

[Sergej]

Max is burning a second set of medium tyres, strange.

EDIT live timing was wrong, it's the same set

[chrisc90]

Just the 1 set for Max.
Wanted +2 clicks on the front, Now happy with the balance. It looks good tbh.

[CjC]

Max for pole

[AR3-GP]

Onboards look very good today. Completely different car to yesterday. Rear is planted but front is still decent at the same time. Loads of turn in at Tosa, finally. Max got 3 runs on medium tire all improving. Warmer than yesterday. Tire deg doesn’t look bad with those consecutive green runs.

[f1isgood]

This image from Miami GP is quite revelatory :
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/u2slam7e ... mxfox&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/u2slam7e ... mxfox&dl=0

Two important things of note :

1. McLaren is able to run 'lower' => naturally more DF without drag penalty. This is thanks to better suspension design (stiffer but without compromising kerb riding - soft for wheel movement, stiff for body movement) in the McLaren that allows such low ride height without the "bottoming out" compromise. All those white markings around the front wing, floor etc show the lower ride height

2. look at the rear engine cover area and see the 'volume of flow' at the coke bottle area, throwing useful air at the BW/RW, by the McLaren. This will tremendously help extraction from diffuser as well, thus enabling more rear DF with the same wing levels as the Redbull. This will in turn (for balance sake) mean more DF can be added at the front wing than the Redbull. We can clearly see the difference between the two FWs.

Just these two points - better suspension design and better engine cover packaging - has enabled McLaren to have :
- better quality DF due to lower running floor
- better DF from BW, RW, FW ; with maybe a little drag added by FW. However this provides a stronger front end to the car, without having a loose rear end.

I think, this is the 'proper' performance advantage that McLaren have over Redbull or anyone else, not just the tyre heat advantage. Proves that MCL39 is the most advanced car in this Ground Effect era, and by quite a big margin. It is impossible to match this car without 'proper innovation' that takes more than 1 year, even if it's possible to come up with the clever ideas. The reason this car doesn't grab pole in every Q is down to their drivers not being able to handle some of the 'quirks' that can come from such a 'strong nosed' car.

Nice theory, but I am not sure if checking ride height in the image is the right reference.

[Sergej]

not a good first run on soft

[Vettel165]

The car looks good, couple of tenths faster then before. Tyre wear and race pace is the key. We have to deliver there, otherwise starting high doesnt matter. Maybe on some tracks yes, but there are many more where overtaking is easy. I am not yet optimistic.

[chrisc90]

The soft seems poor all round I’d say

[Sergej]

only Norris and Kimi put a good lap with soft

[f1isgood]

only Norris and Kimi put a good lap with soft

I think Max would be P3 with his soft run, it wasn't great but not terrible either. But yeah, getting these softs to work will be very tricky. McLaren keeps the tires well throughout the lap, so it is a bit surprising Piastri is 4 tneths behind.

[chrisc90]

Lando was complaining a lot about the wing on the softs too. And goes cleanly across the gravel on a replay.