2025 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[Sergej]

Enrico Balbo was on the podium, or am I tripping?

label on the T-shirt was "Enrico" so I guess yes

[f1isgood]

The move at the start made all the difference. If Piastri is sitting in free air pushing he probably ends up in Max's position at the end. Still, encouraging that the deg was good, but we've seen that before here last year. Deg was really good first stint, then McLaren came back at the end. Spain will be a crucial barometer.

I think the last stint deficit to the McLaren's is gone this year. It was a serious issue last year. Now it seems that the gaps are consistent throughout the race, neither teams gain much on high/low fuel. For a while last year the RB20 was competitive on the first stint but would fall off. It doesn't seem to be the case this year.

I just don't think this track is representative for deg. I need to see this on a track like Spain.

I agree wrt degradation but McLaren's last year were simply much faster as the car got lighter.

[f1isgood]

Enrico Balbo was on the podium, or am I tripping?

label on the T-shirt was "Enrico" so I guess yes

Nice gesture from Red Bull, he's the head of aero as many of you will know and maybe sent him to get the constructors in his home country.

[AR3-GP]

The move at the start made all the difference. If Piastri is sitting in free air pushing he probably ends up in Max's position at the end. Still, encouraging that the deg was good, but we've seen that before here last year. Deg was really good first stint, then McLaren came back at the end. Spain will be a crucial barometer.

I think the last stint deficit to the McLaren's is gone this year. It was a serious issue last year. Now it seems that the gaps are consistent throughout the race, neither teams gain much on high/low fuel. For a while last year the RB20 was competitive on the first stint but would fall off. It doesn't seem to be the case this year.

I just don't think this track is representative for deg. I need to see this on a track like Spain.

PIA was falling behind in the 1st stint and said he didn't think the "plan" was going to work. Russell was nowhere with his tires and had to pit on lap 12. There was deg today. Those drivers will tell you as much. If there was no deg, PIA would not have been so easily overtaken by Norris.

I think the improvement comes a little bit from the massive improvement to the through-corner balance that they have made. It simply stresses the tires much less in the race now. The tires are no longer fighting against bad aero as much. Tire cooling is still needed but correcting the balance is also another key part of the tire management, as Mclaren have said.

[f1isgood]

Yeah but there's still no indication that Norris had enough over-pace to catch and pass Max or something like that.

Of course, just like Suzuka and Jeddah this year and Imola last year.
Point is they should not even be in that position behind, Norris should be leading from lap 1 and drive uncompromised stint for once, so we could see the true pace of that mclaren.

I think Red Bull have made a solid step. It doesn't matter if it's the Max factor winning in the end.

You could've said the same after Jeddah, where Max actually got pole with quite poor lap and genuinely looked a bit faster on both stints. It's track specifics. Mclaren are not faster by the same margins on all race tracks, they haven't been last year and they won't be this year. But they are still unquestionably the fastest car, both over one lap and race distance. If you think that update could cover as much as 8 tenths of deficit we saw in Miami, you are kidding yourself. Stop it now.

I am not saying this upgrade covered the deficit they had in Miami. That would be stupid. What I am saying is when thermal degradation matters less (there are many such tracks), we might be legit competitive or even quickest. So far, there was not one race where you could say Red Bull was the fastest car on track. I think, at least I would be fine with saying that as far as Imola goes.

McLaren will still dominate a few races with their rear cooling engineering masterclass. That doesn't mean we can't win others where they are close.

AR3 pointed out that for the first time this season, Red Bull's theoretical lap times match McLaren's.

In the end, maybe Max drives the McLaren a few tenths quicker but that's irrelevant. We can only go off whatever we see and the data we have. I think it's safe to say Red Bull was the best car today.

[Paa]

For sure there was deg as undercut seemed powerful.

Looking back at T1 pass of Verstappen, this is why I think rules are stupid and they should be mandated to give space to each other.
I think if Piastri wouldn't have left enough space to Max, then Palmer and other experts would have claimed again that "Max was divebombing like a madman from way behind and it was clear he wasn't going to take to corner anyway" and then gave him a penalty. Same with Mexico-2021 start, that would have seen impossible if not seeing that he actually made it.

This is why rules should be about giving space to see more of this and not having to 2nd guess whether he would have made the corner, or was he going from way behind etc. Just give the space and see how it goes.

[Vettel165]

Mamma Mia what a drive by Max, a true legend. He didnt just win it, he was nearly dominant and pulling away from Piastri. Also I would like to say Red Bull was probably compromised in Miami, because of the sprint race. They always had problems with these type of weekends, finding the right balance. Today it was quite warm and we had good tyre deg, the updates helped. If we can keep the same pace from Barcelona, then its game on. Early days of course, we need a confirmation in the next races..

Otherwise a simply lovely sunday. I am quite emotional, this win tasted very sweet.

[Sergej]

When Lando cleared Oscar in the final stint, he wasn't able to catch Max, the other way around actually (in Miami the McLarens disappeared also after many laps of fighting with Max), so Red Bull had pace today, and tyre management as well, as seen from the first stint.

Then, how much of this was track specific and how much down to the upgrades, we will find in the next races.

[Paa]

So Marko was actually right for once? He claimed some months ago, that they would match McLaren by Imola with their upgrades.

[f1isgood]

When Lando cleared Oscar in the final stint, he wasn't able to catch Max, the other way around actually (in Miami the McLarens disappeared also after many laps of fighting with Max), so Red Bull had pace today, and tyre management as well, as seen from the first stint.

Then, how much of this was track specific and how much down to the upgrades, we will find in the next races.

Yeah, I am extremely happy today but I'll still be realistic till we see a pattern of consistent performance.

[Rikhart]

That turn one move was just visual indication of how much better Verstappen is, it's like the others are standing still. I remember hating this guy because he would seem to have a cheat mode against everyone especially on lap one, and I couldn't grasp how much better he was. Now I understand, and you just have to relish the opportunity to see this genius driving, live.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... BdK8VnKI9T

Coulthard's reaction says it all, it sent shivers down my spine, this guy is insane.

[Vettel165]

So Marko was actually right for once? He claimed some months ago, that they would match McLaren by Imola with their upgrades.

Now imagine what could happen if Mclaren will lose some perfomance with new TD after Barcelona. We can hope of course. This car is very strong in medium-high speed corners which could be good for Barcelona, Silverstone, Spa. Also we improved in terms of top speed.

[Sergej]

Turn one move was pure genius, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. From risking P2 with George to pass Oscar for P1. Wow.

[Vettel165]

RACE PACE
Main strategy: 1 set of mediums, 2 of hards
Gap (s/lap):
1)RBR (VER)
2)McL (NOR) +0.18
3)Ferrari (LEC) +0.58
4)Merc (RUS) +0.87
5)Williams (ALB) +0.95
6)RBs (HAD) +1.25
7)Alpine (GAS) +1.29
8)Haas (BEA) 1.32
9)Aston (ALO) +1.57

[Rikhart]

So Marko was actually right for once? He claimed some months ago, that they would match McLaren by Imola with their upgrades.

Now imagine what could happen if Mclaren will lose some perfomance with new TD after Barcelona. We can hope of course. This car is very strong in medium-high speed corners which could be good for Barcelona, Silverstone, Spa. Also we improved in terms of top speed.

Kerb riding is also massively improved, and brakes seem solved. They have managed a great amount in little amount of time, great job by the team.