Analyzing Red Bull’s Performance Issues in the 2023 Season

The Chinese Grand Prix served as a stark reminder of Red Bull’s performance struggles, with Max Verstappen managing to secure a fourth-place finish after a challenging race. His strong second stint on hard tires was overshadowed by his less-than-ideal first stint on mediums, where he lost nearly a second per lap to the McLarens.

Red Bull’s Weaknesses Exposed in China

Verstappen’s drop from fourth on the grid behind both Ferraris at the start was a clear indication of Red Bull’s current predicament. His struggle to keep up with Leclerc’s damaged highlighted some of the team’s weaknesses, which were also evident in the 19-lap sprint race on Saturday.

The RB21 seems to be a difficult car to drive, as evidenced by Liam Lawson’s struggles in the second seat. Discussions are already underway about potential changes, with Japan being a possible candidate for a switch.

Red Bull’s issues stem from the inconsistent front-to-rear balance of their 2025 car, which affects tyre degradation, particularly on Pirelli’s medium compound. It is no secret that Red Bull is developing their car to suit Verstappen, who has expressed his disappointment with the lack of performance he is getting from his machine on race runs.

Verstappen’s Visit to the Factory and Future Prospects

Verstappen will be visiting Red Bull’s Milton Keynes factory next week for a detailed discussion about the car’s weaknesses with the engineers. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, has confirmed that they aim to improve the car as soon as possible.

Despite the concerns, there is still hope for Red Bull in this season. Verstappen’s car seemed to perform better on the hard compound and lighter fuel loads during the second half of the race, offering some encouragement.

Team principal Christian Horner remains optimistic, stating that they have a lot to learn from the data collected during the Chinese Grand Prix. He emphasized that Red Bull needs to put performance on the car to compete with McLaren, who currently seem hard to catch.

Despite the challenges, there is no defeatism in the Red Bull camp. They are determined to find a solution and continue working hard towards improving their performance. The team will be focusing on upgrading their car as planned, without shifting focus to 2026 prematurely.