Max Verstappen’s qualifying brilliance has kept Red Bull competitive in this season, but Martin Brundle warned he cannot carry the team forever.
Despite their RB21 car lagging behind McLaren’s MCL39, Red Bull have relied heavily on Verstappen’s skill to stay in the fight.
Verstappen has secured four pole positions this season, matching McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, at circuits like Japan, Saudi Arabia, Miami, and Silverstone. However, only his Suzuka pole converted to a victory, with additional wins in Imola.
Red Bull have pushed the limits with ultra-low downforce setups to maximize qualifying speed, a strategy that backfired in mixed conditions.
At Silverstone, a thin rear wing optimized for dry weather left Verstappen vulnerable when rain hit, ruining their race. Learning from this, Red Bull opted for a safer setup in Spa-Francorchamps’ qualifying due to expected wet weather, though they reverted to a low-downforce wing for the sprint shootout, where Verstappen secured a front-row start.
Despite these efforts, Red Bull’s car struggles have left Verstappen 97 points behind championship leader Piastri.
Brundle, a respected voice in motorsport, praised Verstappen’s adaptability and bravery. “He’s put in some incredible laps,” Brundle said on Sky F1. “I called one of his poles laser-guided, pure precision in how he controls the car.
“At Spa, he was fearless with that skinny rear wing, taking critical corners flat out. He’s adjusted his driving style to carry the speed, but no driver can carry a team for an entire season.”
Red Bull’s recent X posts highlight their focus on closing the gap, with the team sharing updates on car development ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
Verstappen, meanwhile, expressed cautious optimism on X, noting, “We’re working hard to find more pace. Zandvoort will be a big challenge, but I’m ready for it.”
The next opportunity for Red Bull to turn things around comes at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, where teams will battle over 72 laps of the 4.259-kilometer Zandvoort circuit on Sunday, August 31.
For Verstappen and Red Bull, it’s a chance to reignite their championship hopes on home soil, but they’ll need more than just their star driver’s heroics.
