29 November 2025Racingnews365AnalysisRace reportReactions
Verstappen Faces 'Big Problem' with RB21 Handling, Title Hopes Dwindle
Max Verstappen's title hopes are on the brink after the Qatar Sprint, where his Red Bull RB21 continued to suffer from 'bouncing, jumping, and oversteer.' Trailing Oscar Piastri by 25 points, Verstappen must outperform Lando Norris in upcoming races to stay in the championship hunt. Red Bull faces immense pressure to resolve these critical handling issues, which threaten to derail their season.
Max Verstappen's title aspirations took a hit after the Qatar Sprint, where he reported significant issues with his Red Bull RB21, citing 'bouncing, jumping, and oversteer' as a 'big problem.' Despite a strong start, the Dutch driver couldn't maintain pace with rivals, allowing championship leader Oscar Piastri to extend his lead.
Why it matters:
- With Piastri winning the sprint and Norris finishing third, Verstappen now trails by 25 points, putting his championship hopes in jeopardy. He must finish ahead of Norris in the upcoming races to remain in contention for the Abu Dhabi season finale.
- The persistent handling issues with the RB21, despite Red Bull's efforts, highlight a critical performance gap that needs immediate attention to salvage their season.
The Details:
- Sprint Performance: Verstappen started sixth in the final sprint race of the season and quickly moved to fourth after the opening corners, overtaking Fernando Alonso and benefiting from Yuki Tsunoda allowing him past.
- Handling Complaints: Despite initial gains, Verstappen quickly fell behind championship leader Piastri and Lando Norris, again complaining to Red Bull about his car's behavior.
- Specific Issues: Verstappen detailed the problems to Sky F1 as 'bouncing, jumping, and understeer in general in the long corners,' emphasizing that these are 'still a big problem.'
- Tyre Wear Impact: He noted that these issues became more pronounced as the tires wore, preventing him from effectively following competitors and forcing him into 'doing my own race out there.'
What's Next:
- Red Bull faces an urgent task to address these fundamental handling issues before qualifying and the main race to give Verstappen a fighting chance against Norris and Piastri.
- The team's ability to quickly resolve these 'big problems' will be crucial in determining whether Verstappen can keep his title hopes alive heading into the final race of the season. If the issues persist, Verstappen's campaign could end prematurely.