Is Verstappen papering over the cracks at a Red Bull team in crisis?
Mar 31, 2025
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In this engaging chat, Dutch TV commentator Nelson Valkenburg shares his insights on Formula 1, particularly focusing on Max Verstappen's remarkable talent amidst Red Bull's internal challenges. They discuss the team's struggles with second drivers and car issues while analyzing Verstappen's current performance. Valkenburg also weighs in on Yuki Tsunoda's prospects and contrasts them with Liam Lawson's challenges. Additionally, they delve into the complexities of team dynamics and how Verstappen's skills could impact Red Bull's future success.
Max Verstappen's exceptional driving style is both a strength and a potential weakness for Red Bull, revealing inefficiencies in car design.
The team's decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda raises concerns about accountability and reflects deeper issues with Red Bull's development philosophy.
Red Bull's organizational changes and loss of key personnel may hinder their long-term success and raise questions about Verstappen's future loyalty.
Deep dives
Red Bull's Technical Troubles
The challenges faced by Red Bull's car dynamics are critically evaluated, suggesting that the vehicle's design might cater more to Max Verstappen's driving style than to general drivability. This has resulted in a situation where Verstappen has been able to outperform his teammates significantly while others struggle with the same car. The episode discusses how the car is built to suit Verstappen's preferences for a pointy front end, which makes it difficult for drivers like Liam Lawson to adapt. This has led to speculation about whether the design philosophy is a sustainable path for Red Bull, especially as Verstappen becomes increasingly vocal about the vehicle's performance limitations.
Max Verstappen's Unique Driving Skills
Verstappen's extraordinary ability to extract performance from the Red Bull car is highlighted as a double-edged sword for the team. His capacity to manage the challenging characteristics of the car suggests that Red Bull may inadvertently be hindered by this reliance on his exceptional skill set. The discussion draws a comparison to the driving styles of other drivers, indicating that not everyone can cope with the unique demands of the vehicle. It follows that this may undermine the team's overall performance if they do not adapt their approach to be more inclusive of different driving styles.
The Impact of Driver Changes
The decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda is framed as potentially disastrous for Red Bull, as issues with the car's performance are blamed on the drivers rather than the technical design. This pivot may reflect a lack of accountability within Red Bull for the ongoing issues, prompting doubt about their development philosophy. Tsunoda's prior performance history could offer a deeper insight into the car's shortcomings, suggesting that a change in driver will not automatically lead to improved results. The segment raises questions about how many chances drivers can realistically expect to have in a system increasingly intolerant of poor performance.
Pressure on Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda faces significant pressure as he assumes a pivotal role with Red Bull amid the organization's current struggles. His task is complicated by the fact that he has not had the benefit of a full pre-season to adapt to the vehicle and must perform immediately, especially given his local Japanese Grand Prix backdrop. The podcast notes that Tsunoda appears determined to embrace the opportunity, despite the chaotic circumstances surrounding his late entry. Observers highlight his experience compared to Lawson's, noting that Tsunoda's ability to build confidence could turn the tide for Red Bull if he can leverage this challenge effectively.
Long-term Concerns for Red Bull
Red Bull's management choices and organizational structure are scrutinized as being potentially detrimental to their long-term success, particularly given the loss of key talent like Adrian Newey. The discussion centers around whether these leadership shifts are indicative of deeper issues within the team’s operational philosophy. The focus shifts to Verstappen's future and whether he will remain loyal to a team that has not successfully built a backup plan or adequately responded to his needs. This union of impending pressures raises crucial questions about the sustainability of Red Bull's current trajectory, especially in light of external competition.
In the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast, we ask to what extent Max Verstappen’s brilliance is papering over the cracks at Red Bull, given the team's struggles with its second driver, its difficult car, and the continued exodus of senior personnel.
Nelson Valkenburg and Scott Mitchell-Malm join Edd Straw to evaluate what Verstappen has to do to make things work at Red Bull, and what he makes of the latest driver switch.
We also look at Yuki Tsunoda’s prospects for Suzuka and beyond in place of Liam Lawson, and the skill set that should at least make him better prepared than his predecessor.
We also tackle more listener questions on a variety of topics ranging from who would be Verstappen’s optimum team-mate to the value of the four-times world champion’s sim-racing endeavours.
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