Red Bull’s 2025 Season Struggles and Potential Solutions

The 2025 Formula 1 season has barely begun, yet Red Bull is already grappling with the same challenges that plagued them for much of the previous year. With a car that only Max Verstappen can truly master, and a new teammate in Liam Lawson feeling the pressure of high expectations, our writers offer their insights on how Red Bull might address this situation.

The Need for Patience and Support – Oleg Karpov

It was almost inevitable that promoting Liam Lawson to a senior team after just 11 races in F1 would result in struggles given the demands of the job: an exceptional teammate, a challenging car to drive, and a harsh racing environment. Lawson is resilient under pressure, as his media responses suggest, but even Sergio Perez, with a decade of F1 experience, couldn’t avoid a mental breakdown in the end. Replacing him now would only repeat past mistakes.

Instead of replacing Lawson, Red Bull could adopt a different approach and support the newcomer as Toto Wolff did with Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Providing Lawson with the necessary time and support during this challenging period might be the best solution.

A Different Approach – Stuart Codling

The misconception that Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is repeating an unsuccessful course of action again and again in the hope of obtaining a different result,” rings true as Red Bull seems determined to repeat past mistakes. Liam Lawson’s troubled performances have sparked speculation about his future with the team, with Yuki Tsunoda potentially taking his place.

The problem might not lie with the drivers but with the car itself. Redesigning the car could be an expensive solution, but it might be necessary to achieve better results. Rather than repeating failed strategies, a change in approach is needed. As Christian Horner once said to Toto Wolff, “You’ve got a problem – change your fucking car.”

Embracing the Challenge – Mark Mann-Bryans

Red Bull has created its car, and now they must find someone capable of driving it effectively. With Verstappen being the only driver who can truly maximize the potential of the current car, Red Bull must accept this reality. The team will continue to cycle through promising rookies (and Sergio Perez) in search of a driver who can match Verstappen’s performance, but this is a challenging task even under ideal circumstances.

Instead of asking other drivers to risk their F1 careers by competing against one of the most formidable car/driver pairings in history, Red Bull should accept that all their eggs are in the Verstappen basket. This realization might help them focus on finding ways to improve the car and support their drivers more effectively.