Red Bull joined their fellow Formula 1 teams in revealing their brand-new livery at the F1 75 season launch on Tuesday night. They very much stuck to tradition with their design.
Max Verstappen had asked Red Bull to use a throwback livery in 2025, channelling the Sebastian Vettel era. But the branding team opted for continuity instead.
Verstappen had, semi-jokingly, expressed a desire to skip the event when it was first announced. He’s consistently shown a disdain for the ‘show’ connected to F1.
But he fulfilled his obligations and waved to the fans on stage as Red Bull unveiled the RB21. New teammate Liam Lawson was introduced to the crowd.
Team principal Christian Horner instead served as the spokesman for the team. He was met with boos.
Red Bull were the third-to-last team on stage as the cars were revealed in reverse constructors’ order. Verstappen will have the chance to drive it for the first time at a shakedown before the Bahrain test.
David Croft says Max Verstappen didn’t seem ‘full of joy’ before F1 75 event
According to The Athletic’s Luke Smith, Verstappen called the event ‘fantastic’ during his media appearances earlier in the day. Smith suspects the answer was ‘laced with sarcasm’.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, commentator David Croft noted a lack of ‘optimism and joy’ in Verstappen’s demeanour. He enters the year as the world champion, looking to match Michael Schumacher’s record of five straight titles.
It’s possible that Verstappen was trying to control expectations. He hasn’t driven the RB21 so he doesn’t know if he’ll have the tools to extend his domination.
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It was certainly noteworthy, though, that he and Lawson were the only drivers not to speak on stage.
“Max Verstappen wasn’t full of optimism and joy, saying he hasn’t driven the car yet,” Croft said. “Is that Verstappen just being Verstappen and not getting involved in speculation?”
Why didn’t Max Verstappen and Red Bull do an interview at F1 75?
Every team was allotted the same amount of time on stage at the O2 Arena. They could use that window however they pleased.
Journalist Chris Medland says that Red Bull ‘agreed’ beforehand that the drivers wouldn’t be interviewed. Given that there were some boos when Verstappen was mentioned, this may have been a smart PR-wise – even if it exposed Horner to a more hostile reception.
There’s lasting hostility among sections of British F1 fans after the events of the 2021 season. Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas has defended his driver, pointing out that Hamilton has been just as ruthless as Verstappen at times.
Verstappen said he was ‘super excited’ by Red Bull’s livery, which seemed to hint at a change. Perhaps it was a disappointment in that regard, but it has doubtless become iconic in its own right.
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