Winning is difficult; repeating the feat is even harder. Max Verstappen will try, even though the car at his disposal no longer seems to be at the top level compared to the competition. Despite Max entering his eleventh F1 season, he will once again have the number 1 prominently displayed on his nose. Repeating his success in 2025 will be a tough challenge. That’s true. After all, only Michael Schumacher has managed to win five consecutive world titles, from 2000 to 2004. During pre-season testing in Bahrain, the RB21 did not convey overwhelmingly positive sensations.
The four-time world champion essentially faced recurring issues that do not yet appear to be resolved. Persistent flaws that forced the Dutchman to drive conservatively in the second half of last season, such as curb-riding problems, which were once again evident during collective testing. Max Verstappen claims that fighting for victory in Melbourne will be impossible. At least, that’s his opinion—for now. However, it could also be a strategic mind game.
His outlook differs greatly from that of Lando Norris and the Ferrari duo, who have openly stated their ambition to fight for the world titles. In fact, for Ferrari, the battle for the championship begins right in Melbourne, as the Scuderia aims to erase the past and return to winning ways. Given this scenario, can Jos Verstappen’s son really be ruled out as a contender for the championship that is about to begin?
A temperamental Red Bull, but not a slow one
The answer to that question is no. The Dutch driver has shown that he can compensate for the car’s shortcomings with his skill. In Bahrain testing, McLaren proved highly competitive on a track that has never particularly suited the Woking-based team. However, despite all the smokescreens and pre-season tactics aimed at concealing true potential, Red Bull appears to be a temperamental car but not dramatically slow—both on single-lap pace and in race simulations.
It is certainly not the category’s benchmark, and Verstappen’s gestures captured in various onboard shots suggest that the Milton Keynes car does not fully respond to his inputs. Nevertheless, while the RB21 still carries some of the weaknesses of the 2024 technical concept, it has demonstrated notable speed. Just look at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix in Losail, where Red Bull’s engineers found the best compromise to unlock the car’s full potential.
F1 and the self-sabotage of the competition
Internal dynamics at Red Bull remain unclear. According to the Austrian team’s own management, Liam Lawson must perform better than Sergio Perez, but he must never put his personal ambitions above those of the team—which, in turn, align with those of the reigning world champion. In short, there is no doubt about who is the lead driver and who plays the supporting role.
The situation is entirely different at McLaren and Ferrari. The historic British team gave Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri equal opportunities until the final stages of last season—what turned out to be a “strategic harakiri” that hurt Norris’ chances in the title fight. Oscar Piastri is unlikely to accept a number-two role, at least as long as he has a shot at the drivers’ championship. Inevitably, the early part of the season will see the drivers competing freely, without predefined hierarchies.
The same applies at Ferrari. The arrival of Lewis Hamilton has generated massive enthusiasm within the Maranello squad. While it is true that Charles Leclerc knows the team inside out, it is equally likely that great effort will be made to help the seven-time world champion secure what would be an eighth title, this time at the wheel of the SF-25.
As for Mercedes, much will depend on the quality of the car and the development of Kimi Antonelli. Toto Wolff’s plan is for the young Italian to become for Mercedes what Max Verstappen was for Red Bull. Russell will certainly start the season as team leader and must capitalize on that status, particularly in the opening phase, when he will need to shoulder the team’s responsibilities.
Red Bull’s enviable execution on track
Having the best car on the grid is not always a guarantee of success. Last year, McLaren found itself entangled in what became known as the “Papaya Rules.” In 2022, Ferrari paid a high price for strategic blunders that cost them what should have been guaranteed victories (Monaco 2022 being a prime example). Under Fred Vasseur’s management, Ferrari has made great strides in this area. Nonetheless, in 2025, the Scuderia’s strategists will be under immense pressure.
This is because they must satisfy the ambitions of two top-tier drivers, ensuring that neither feels disadvantaged. Red Bull has long been the category’s benchmark for race strategy and operations. How many times in recent years have we witnessed Red Bull engineers pull off miracles on race weekends, completely transforming their car’s performance overnight? The most recent example was again in Losail last season.
In Saturday’s sprint race, Max finished in an anonymous position, even trailing Nico Hülkenberg’s Haas. The following day, however, he was untouchable. The Dutchman dominated the Grand Prix from start to finish, despite McLaren being widely expected to be the favorite in Qatar. The flawless execution of Red Bull’s race operations could once again prove to be a decisive weapon—especially if the title fight turns out to be as close as anticipated.
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