Verstappen: Red Bull’s problems go deeper than wind tunnel issues

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Max Verstappen has insisted that Red Bull Racing’s ongoing performance issues with its RB21 cannot be solely blamed on the team’s aging wind tunnel, pushing back on recent comments from team principal Christian Horner.

Despite managing a pole-to-flag win in Japan and strong showings in earlier rounds, Verstappen’s sixth-place finish in Bahrain laid bare some persistent weaknesses in the car – particularly its difficulty in maintaining balance and controlling tyre wear on more demanding circuits.

After last weekend’s race, Horner attributed much of Red Bull’s inconsistency to wind tunnel correlation problems that continue to plague the team. But Verstappen believes the explanation is more complex.

“Of course, we're not entirely happy with it and we're working on a new wind tunnel,” the four-time world champion told the media.

“It just takes time, but we already knew that. It's not a new thing this season. We saw back in 2023 that you can't detect certain things in the wind tunnel.”

Beyond the Wind Tunnel: Verstappen’s Perspective

The Dutchman pointed out that Red Bull’s existing wind tunnel, despite its limitations, supported the team’s dominance in previous seasons.

“But the team has experience with that, so they know which direction they should develop in. The only issue is that they can't perfect some small details.

Looking Ahead to 2026

With Red Bull’s immediate challenges casting a shadow over its 2025 campaign, questions have arisen about the team’s prospects for 2026, when new regulations will reshape the Formula 1 landscape.

Verstappen, however, remains pragmatic, noting that the future is too unpredictable to draw direct comparisons.

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“Well that's a completely different car, so you can't compare that. It could be a different team that suddenly gets everything right,” he said when asked if the current struggles make him pessimistic about 2026.

Verstappen’s outlook underlines how unpredictable the next regulation era could be – and that Red Bull, despite its dominant past, cannot take anything for granted.

With other teams like McLaren making significant strides and Red Bull wrestling with both hardware limitations and on-track inconsistencies, Verstappen’s stance offers a candid reminder: championship success demands more than just a strong wind tunnel – it requires precision across every detail.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.