Red Bull’s reveal of the RB21 has been one of the most anticipated moments of the off-season, as the team looks to reclaim its dominance after a turbulent second half of the 2024 season. While Max Verstappen remains the focal point of Red Bull’s ambitions, all eyes are also on Liam Lawson, who has been given the massive responsibility of stepping into the second seat after Sergio Perez’s departure. The young New Zealander, who impressed as a stand-in at AlphaTauri in 2023, now faces the ultimate challenge—partnering Verstappen in a car that must be competitive from the very first race.
Despite Red Bull’s struggles towards the end of last season, Verstappen’s confidence hasn’t wavered. The Dutchman, who has built a reputation as one of the most ruthless and determined drivers on the grid, has made it clear that he expects nothing less than a return to the top. While he acknowledges that McLaren and Ferrari have closed the gap, Verstappen has expressed his belief that Red Bull has done everything necessary to address the RB20’s weaknesses and ensure the RB21 is a more stable and predictable machine over the course of a full season.
The team’s engineering department, led by Pierre Wache, has worked tirelessly over the winter to refine the car’s setup and handling characteristics. Verstappen and Perez often struggled with an unpredictable balance in 2024, particularly in races where tire degradation played a critical role. Those inconsistencies, which weren’t fully understood until late in the season, cost Red Bull valuable points and allowed McLaren and Ferrari to capitalize. Now, the RB21 has been designed with a renewed focus on maintaining performance across different track conditions, ensuring the team doesn’t find itself on the back foot when racing resumes.
Pre-season testing in Bahrain will provide the first real insight into how well Red Bull has executed its plan. Unlike in previous years, where Red Bull entered testing as the undisputed favorite, the pressure is now much higher. McLaren’s late-season resurgence, coupled with Ferrari’s strong performances, has turned the championship fight into a much more open battle. Red Bull will need to use every lap of testing efficiently, fine-tuning the car’s setup to make sure they arrive at the season opener fully prepared.
Verstappen’s approach to testing has always been meticulous. Known for his no-nonsense attitude and ability to extract maximum performance from a car, he will be pushing the RB21 to its limits from the moment it hits the track. Lawson, meanwhile, will have a slightly different challenge. While he has shown flashes of brilliance in his limited Formula 1 outings, adapting to Red Bull’s unique way of operating will be a different test entirely. He will need to learn quickly, proving that he can consistently deliver strong performances and support the team’s championship ambitions.
The departure of Perez has also added an interesting dynamic to the team. The Mexican driver played a crucial role in Red Bull’s success during Verstappen’s early title-winning years, but his inconsistency in 2023 and 2024 led to increasing scrutiny over his long-term suitability for the team. Red Bull ultimately decided to move on, opting to give Lawson a chance rather than bringing in a more experienced driver from outside the organization. It’s a bold move, but one that reflects Red Bull’s belief in its driver development system.
Christian Horner has emphasized that the focus this year is not only on regaining control of the championship but also on ensuring that both drivers can consistently contribute to the team’s points tally. While Verstappen is still expected to lead the charge, Red Bull cannot afford a repeat of last season, where the gap between its two drivers became too large at crucial moments. Lawson will need to quickly find his footing and establish himself as a reliable second driver, capable of delivering podium finishes and strategic support when needed.
Beyond just the drivers, the entire Red Bull organization is under pressure to deliver. After a period of unprecedented dominance, the setbacks of 2024 were a wake-up call, showing that the competition is catching up. McLaren, under the leadership of Andrea Stella, has made massive strides in performance, and Ferrari remains as motivated as ever to bring a championship back to Maranello. Even Mercedes, despite its struggles, is still a team that cannot be discounted. Red Bull knows that if it does not start the season strongly, it risks being caught in a much closer fight than it has been used to in recent years.
One of the key storylines heading into the new season is how Verstappen will respond to having a much more competitive grid around him. Throughout his career, he has thrived in head-to-head battles, but with McLaren and Ferrari expected to bring significant upgrades early in the year, there could be more direct confrontations on track than in previous seasons. This will put even greater importance on Red Bull’s race strategies and in-race decision-making, areas where they have traditionally excelled but will need to be even sharper this time around.
While much has been made of Red Bull’s challenges, there is still plenty of reason for optimism within the team. Verstappen’s ability to extract pace from a car, even in difficult conditions, is unmatched, and if the RB21 truly delivers on its promise of being more stable and predictable, he could return to his dominant best. Lawson, meanwhile, represents the future of the team, and if he can adapt quickly, he may prove to be one of the breakout stars of the season.
The countdown to the first race of the season is now well underway, and the next few days in Bahrain will be crucial in shaping expectations for the year ahead. Red Bull has made it clear that it has learned from its mistakes, but the real test will come when the lights go out in the season opener. For Verstappen, the goal remains the same—to add another title to his already impressive collection. For Lawson, it’s about proving that he belongs at the top level and securing his place in the sport’s elite.
The battle for the 2025 Formula 1 championship is set to be one of the most exciting in years, and Red Bull’s performance with the RB21 will be central to how the season unfolds. If they have truly solved the problems that held them back last year, they could be in for another dominant campaign. If not, they may find themselves in the middle of one of the closest fights in recent memory. Either way, the stage is set for another thrilling season in the world of Formula 1.
