Max Verstappen had mixed feelings when he ended Formula 1 testing second quickest on the final day.
The Dutchman took over from teammate Liam Lawson on the final day to drive the RB21, although the day was far from straightforward as he appeared to struggle.
Verstappen’s usual ‘pointy’ front end was replaced by a car that was understeering on corner turn-in, particularly through the sweeping Turns 14 and 15 complex.
Red Bull ran their new front wing in a back-to-back test with the Dutchman in the afternoon, although he still didn’t complete a full race run.
Verstappen claimed that there was a “few little problems” they needed to work out, with technical director Pierre Wache also admitting that it was “not as smooth test as we expected” when speaking on Red Bull’s website.
Although Red Bull looks like it will be close to McLaren throughout a lap, former F1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Verstappen will be ‘very difficult’ if they face problems in Melbourne when speaking to CNN.
Guenther Steiner thinks Max Verstappen will be ‘very difficult’ at Red Bull in 2025
Steiner is used to handling drivers who have faced tough seasons during his time at Haas, and expects Red Bull might find it tough to work with the Dutchman if he is not given a car that can win races at the start of the season.
Steiner: “If he hasn’t got a good car where he can win, he will get very difficult to manage, because he will be vocal if the team is not happy. And an angry Max is not a nice Max, but we all know he’s a great driver and will put the effort in to win the races and championship, but it will not be easy.”
Interviewer: “What would you do if he was your driver? What would you say to Max?”
Steiner: “To stay calm but don’t throw the toys out of the pram after two races if it doesn’t go your way, if it is not easy for us at the beginning of the season we need to work hard to be where we want to be, because getting impatient doesn’t help the team.”
Red Bull potentially sand-bagging during 2025 F1 testing
It is always difficult to draw to conclusions from F1 testing because of the various factors at play, including fuel loads and engine modes.
Red Bull’s times were still competitive with Verstappen just 0.021s off the best time set by George Russell on the third day, but there was a sense the team wasn’t showing their true pace.
READ MORE: Red Bull will ‘absolutely hate’ one aspect of Liam Lawson’s spin during the first day of F1 pre-season testing
There is one theory floating around the F1 paddock that Red Bull has chosen not to upgrade its car, with the view they are focusing on their 2026 car.
Many of the upgraded elements on the RB21 are in areas you don’t normally see on the car, which is why it broadly looks similar to its 2024 counterpart.
