Red Bull's Uncertainty Ahead of Las Vegas GP Amidst Verstappen's Title Chase
Red Bull and Max Verstappen face uncertainty regarding their performance at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, a crucial race in Verstappen's bid for a fifth consecutive F1 title. Despite recent strong results, team boss Laurent Mekies admits they often misjudge track suitability, while Verstappen eyes a 49-point gap to championship leader Lando Norris, highlighting the challenge of tire management in the final triple-header.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen are heading into a critical triple-header, including the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with the F1 2025 Drivers’ Championship on the line. Despite Verstappen's strong recent form, both he and Red Bull leadership express uncertainty about their performance on the unique Las Vegas Strip Circuit, admitting they've been 'regularly wrong at predicting' which tracks will suit them.
Why it matters:
Verstappen is currently 49 points behind McLaren's Lando Norris with only 83 points maximum remaining. How Red Bull's RB21 performs in Las Vegas and the subsequent races will be crucial for Verstappen to mount a comeback and secure a fifth consecutive title, making every point vital in this tight championship battle.
The Details:
- Verstappen's Form: Since the summer break, Verstappen has been on the podium at every round, securing wins in Italy, Azerbaijan, and the United States GPs.
- Championship Gap: Following back-to-back wins for Norris, Verstappen faces a 49-point deficit heading into the final three races, with a maximum of 83 points still available.
- Team's Prediction Challenge: Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies admitted they have been frequently incorrect in predicting track suitability, citing Monza, Baku, and Singapore as examples where their car performed better than expected.
- Las Vegas's Unique Demands: The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is known for its low downforce requirements and potentially chilly conditions, which could pose a challenge for teams to find the optimal operating window for their cars.
- Focus on Self-Improvement: Mekies emphasized that the team's focus is on optimizing their own performance rather than speculating on relative strengths against competitors.
Between the lines:
While Red Bull had a 'rollercoaster ride' getting the RB21 into its operating window at Interlagos, the team generally improved in finding that 'sweet spot' post-summer break. However, both Mekies and Verstappen highlighted the inherent difficulty in consistently achieving optimal car setup, regardless of track characteristics.
What's next:
Verstappen acknowledged the 'very different tracks' ahead in the triple-header and expressed concerns about tire management, indicating that getting the tires into a good window remains a key area of focus for Red Bull. His pragmatic view on the championship situation suggests that consistent performance across these final races, rather than a single event, will determine his title fate.