Max Verstappen currently feels pessimistic about his chances at the Abu Dhabi GP. Red Bull lacks the necessary pace to challenge McLaren in the 2025 Formula 1 title showdown. The four-time world champion finished behind McLaren’s championship leader Lando Norris in both Friday practice sessions at Yas Marina Circuit. Norris holds a significant lead, needing only a podium finish to secure his maiden title.
According to Jadeh Makhsoos News Agency, Verstappen acknowledged his car’s decent window but admitted it needs more speed. He stated, “I was fairly happy with the car, we just need to be probably a little bit faster.” Verstappen also highlighted a “constant fight” with his car’s ride. He believes both single-lap and long-run performance require improvement.
The Dutchman recognized a “decent gap” they must close. He affirmed Red Bull’s commitment to presenting their best car. Verstappen hopes they can find significant improvements overnight. The team’s struggles extended to the sister RB21. It finished 15th in FP1 and 17th in FP2.
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko echoed Verstappen’s concerns about their performance at the Abu Dhabi GP. He described both the long-run and one-lap pace as “unsatisfactory.” Marko specifically noted, “we’re losing more time in sector three.” He also pointed out the car’s clear tendency to understeer, which Max dislikes. While Verstappen leads Piastri, Marko emphasized Norris as the primary competitor.
Jadeh Makhsoos reports, Marko doubts Mercedes or Ferrari can challenge Norris. Neither team posed a threat during Friday practice. This suggests Verstappen likely needs an operational or strategic failure from Norris’s side. However, Marko believes “we can’t rely three times on mistakes.”
Verstappen secured victory at the recent Qatar GP due to a McLaren error. McLaren failed to pit under a safety car, costing them a potential 1-3 finish. This blunder adds to several other mistakes McLaren made this season. These include Piastri’s Baku crash and two Vegas disqualifications for excessive plank wear.
Red Bull’s upgrades at Monza helped Verstappen overturn a 104-point deficit. He has won five of the last eight Grands Prix. Despite the current challenges, Marko remains optimistic about Red Bull’s comeback effort. He praised the team for salvaging their season after McLaren dominated the initial 15 weekends. Marko concluded, “I think we’ve made an excellent comeback” at the Abu Dhabi GP.
