Red Bull Racing has acknowledged that limitations in their wind tunnel technology are contributing to the issues with their Formula 1 car. The team hopes that upcoming upgrades will improve the confidence of drivers Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda.
Despite Max Verstappen being only a few points behind championship leader Lando Norris, the Red Bull car has not matched the pace of leading teams like McLaren. Verstappen`s victory in Suzuka was achieved through exceptional driving in what has been a challenging season for the team.
Helmut Marko, a Red Bull advisor, has expressed significant concern about Verstappen`s future with the team. Verstappen’s contract includes performance-based clauses that could allow him to leave before his contract ends in 2028.
In the Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen finished sixth, a considerable 34 seconds behind winner Oscar Piastri, even with a late safety car period.
Team principal Christian Horner explained that the team understands the problems but is struggling because simulations and wind tunnel data are not accurately reflecting on-track performance. He emphasized the need to identify why their tools are not correctly predicting real-world results and to resolve this discrepancy.
Horner further mentioned that the wind tunnel’s limitations are causing a mismatch between simulation data and actual track data, creating confusion. He pointed out that while a new wind tunnel is expected in 2027, they must work with their current facilities for the next two years.
He stated that the team needs to understand the car`s weaknesses, particularly as performance gains are minimal under the current regulations. The current wind tunnel is showing deficiencies in critical areas.
Red Bull`s difficulties began about a year ago, following a dominant start to the 2024 season where they won most of the early races, but performance declined in the latter half of the season.
Sergio Perez struggled to adapt to the car, ultimately losing his seat. Liam Lawson replaced him for the 2025 season but faced challenges near the back of the grid and was quickly replaced.
Tsunoda, while qualifying and finishing close to Verstappen in Bahrain, noted after his first run in the RB21 in Japan that the car felt different from the simulator.
A key issue for Red Bull is managing tire wear compared to competitors like McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari. This is made worse by the car`s cornering not fully meeting Verstappen`s driving style. Consequently, Verstappen and Tsunoda cannot push the car to its maximum potential without causing excessive tire degradation and losing speed.
Horner reiterated that the team is aware of the problem and is focused on implementing solutions. The issue primarily affects the entry and mid-corner phases, impacting Verstappen`s confidence to carry speed through corners. This is fundamentally an aerodynamic problem requiring adjustments to enhance grip and balance and stabilize the car.
Marcus Prine