Red Bull has acknowledged that deficiencies in their wind tunnel are contributing to the problems with their car. The team hopes that upcoming upgrades will boost the confidence of Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda.
Despite Verstappen being just eight points behind championship leader Lando Norris, the Red Bull car has been noticeably slower than the leading McLaren team. Verstappen`s victory in Suzuka was achieved through exceptional driving.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has expressed `great concern` regarding Verstappen`s future, noting that the driver`s contract includes performance clauses that could allow him to leave before his contract ends in 2028.
Verstappen finished sixth in the Bahrain Grand Prix, a significant 34 seconds behind winner Oscar Piastri, even with a late Safety Car period.
Team principal Christian Horner stated that the issues are understood, but the challenge lies in the discrepancy between simulations and on-track performance. He highlighted the need to understand why their tools are not accurately reflecting track results and to address this disconnect.
Horner also mentioned that the wind tunnel is not accurately replicating on-track observations, leading to inconsistencies between simulation tools and real-world data.
He explained that the team needs to identify the weaknesses and that their current wind tunnel is struggling in areas where performance gains are minimal due to the current regulations.
Red Bull`s performance decline began around a year ago after a dominant start to the 2024 season, where they won only two races in the latter half.
Sergio Perez struggled to adapt to the car and was replaced by Liam Lawson in 2025. Lawson, however, also faced difficulties and was quickly replaced after two races.
Tsunoda, after his first experience with the RB21 in Japan, noted that the car felt `a bit different` from the simulator.
A key issue for Red Bull is tire management compared to competitors like McLaren, Mercedes, and sometimes Ferrari. This is worsened by the car`s cornering, which doesn`t fully align with Verstappen`s preferred driving style.
These factors limit Verstappen and Tsunoda from pushing the car to its limits without causing excessive tire wear and loss of speed.
Horner confirmed that the team understands the problem and is focused on implementing solutions, particularly concerning the car`s entry and mid-corner handling to improve grip and driver confidence. This issue is primarily aerodynamic, requiring adjustments to balance and car behavior.
The team is working to `calm the car down` by analyzing the interaction between front and rear wings and other elements to resolve the balance shift.
