F1 | Red Bull uses Lindblad to help Verstappen fine-tune RB21 setup
Red Bull has turned to Arvid Lindblad to support Max Verstappen, a strategic move in Formula 1 to accelerate the Dutchman’s learning on the RB21. The team aimed to resolve uncertainties regarding simulator-to-track correlation, allowing Verstappen to focus primarily on race pace, where tire management proved trickier than expected.
Red Bull continues to exploit McLaren’s weaknesses
Red Bull is almost always one step ahead, a well-prepared F1 team that leaves no detail unchecked. This meticulous approach, led by Laurent Mekies, has allowed the team to achieve a substantial performance recovery, positioning Max to fight for the 2025 drivers’ championship in the final race.
Despite the team’s intense focus, in their effort to challenge Lando Norris mentally, Oscar Piastri inadvertently fell behind. Red Bull learned from this over the season, collecting crucial points to keep the pressure on McLaren. Today, the third practice session and qualifying will be decisive.
Saturday represents the most critical day of the season. McLaren has the technical edge with the MCL39’s superior potential, but Verstappen remains confident, hoping even for minor mistakes from McLaren on track.
Lindblad’s crucial role in Verstappen’s performance
During FP1, following regulations, Red Bull left Yuki Tsunoda out and put Arvid Lindblad in the car. The next Racing Bulls talent has been instrumental on the simulator, helping develop setups for the race weekend. Yesterday, engineer Lambiase shared key insights about the program.
“With Arvid, we used his FP1 session to gather data on a couple of setup parameters we weren’t 100% sure about in the factory simulations,” he explained. The engineer emphasized the value of this approach: “It was really useful for our team. We analyzed the collected information, which was very consistent, aligning with our expectations. This operation allowed us to learn valuable lessons for FP2.”
Verstappen studies tire and race pace
Max Verstappen focused on understanding race pace rather than outright lap performance. “Overall, it was a productive day with Max. This time, we focused less on the RB21’s single-lap speed and more on race simulation with full fuel loads,” Lambiase explained.
“We ran long, consistent stints to gather detailed data for Sunday’s race, covering the 300-kilometer distance. This approach revealed that the tires were slightly more vulnerable than our initial baseline suggested.”
Lindblad’s work aimed to accelerate Max Verstappen’s learning on the car setup while Max also worked on ride height adjustments. This smart team organization allowed Red Bull to gather maximum data and optimize the four-time world champion’s performance. The big question remains whether it will be enough to challenge McLaren’s dominant pace in Abu Dhabi.
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