Red Bull admitted that the F1 testing was “not so calm” as they were expecting questions about their rhythm compared to the apparent McLaren rhythm definitions before opening the Grand Prix Australian season.
During the three days of testing in Bahrain, Red Bull completed the smallest number of laps while Max Verstappen decided the second best time of the last day on Friday after George Russell.
But the RB21 was regularly in the garage as the team made changes throughout the test, but also underwent a water pressure failure on Thursday.
Neither Verstappen and Liam Lawson ended up a complete simulation of the race, which would be the best indicator of Red Bull’s rhythm.
“It was not a calm test as we expected and the team waited, but it is better to find some problems here than later in line and is why we are here, to understand the car,” said technical director Pierre Wache.
“The weather was not with us and not many representatives of this track, but we tried to explore the potential of the car and tried to figure out how it responds to different groups, and I think we have achieved it more or less.
“I think it’s very difficult to see an initial order for Melbourne all over the network now, you see that four teams look quite fast, including us, but we didn’t see much in other teams, we tried to focus on our program.
“I’m not as happy as I could be because the car didn’t answer how we ever wanted, but it’s going in the right direction, only the direction size was not as big as we expected and it’s something we have to work for the first race and future development.”
Verstappen: Work to do but testing ‘wasn’t bad’
Verstappen has the opportunity to equalize Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive titles this year, but Lando Norris goes to the season as a favorite after McLaren impressed him mostly on testing.
On the second day of testing, Norris was about a second faster than the Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli during the last season of their respective race simulations, albeit on a faster tire.
Lewis Hamilton stressed that Verstappen had a long “good” term last morning, but the Dutch played expectations.
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Max Verstappen and Lando Norris had a ridiculous response when asked what their relationship is now after their runways on the runway last season
“I think we had a good day last day. There were some minor problems, but in general, we ended up a lot of what we wanted to do,” he said.
“I think it was not bad, but at the same time there is little work to do. However, it is what we expected and we will continue to work and continue to try to improve and hope as we go to Melbourne, we will learn a little more by passing all the data and see where we are.
“It is difficult to show where everyone’s pace is, so there is still little work to do for us. We look forward to starting the competitions properly in Australia.”
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Driver Haas Esteban Ocon and Verstappen of Red Bull both rolled out of control at the same turn during the test closing stages
When is the first F1 racing?
For the first time since 2019, the season space will be held in Melbourne in the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16. The first race has passed from Bahrain to Australia because of Ramadan that is taking place throughout March.
There are 24 events in the 2025 F1 calendar, the same number as last year, with the season ending at Abu Dhabi’s Grand Prix on December 5-7.
Check out all the 24 weekends of the 2025 Formula 1 Live season at the Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports with now – without contract, cancel at any time
