Max Verstappen Admits Red Bull RB21 Is “Too Slow” to Challenge McLaren

Max Verstappen hasn’t had the start that he would’ve wanted in his 2025 season. The reigning world champion has not managed to take the top spot yet in any race or qualifying.

Verstappen is easily outperforming his new teammate, Liam Lawson, and constantly challenging the McLarens. However, he fell short of beating Lewis Hamilton’s times for the Sprint Qualifying in China.

Max Verstappen says the RB21 is “too slow”

After the bipolar qualifying for Red Bull in China, it was clear that McLarens were in a league of their own. Ferrari seems to have caught up to the Papaya team as well as Lewis Hamilton pulled off the fastest lap in history at the Shanghai circuit.

Max Verstappen has attributed this loss of pace to the car and talked about how the car is slightly off balance and not fast enough to bring the challenge to the McLarens.

“I do think that in the first practice we were quite a bit off, so I’m very happy to be on the front row,” he told the interviewer from F1.

🏆| Lewis Hamilton already making history with Ferrari by setting a new lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit!

Hamilton beat Vettel’s record (1:31.09) with a WHOPPING 1:30.849!🤯#F1 #ChineseGP

[📸Ferrari Content Pool] pic.twitter.com/DU8ivwZI0W

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) March 21, 2025

“The lap was very good. It’s always very tough, when you go from a medium [tyre] to a soft, to nail the lap with no references.”

“Of course when you look at it, it was 18 thousandths or something off pole, but I don’t think we should have even been on the front row anyway. I’m very happy to be second.”

“I don’t think the balance is massively off, we’re just too slow I would say. But this is good for us, it’s a little motivation boost I think as well for everyone that we keep nailing the laps, we keep trying to maximise everything that we’ve got, and you need to do that as well, at the same time when you’re maybe struggling a little bit more for pace.” he concluded.

RB21 seems to be on the slower side compared to the RB20. However, Max Verstappen is still managing to pull off perfect laps, while his teammate seems to be struggling a bit. Liam Lawson was knocked out of SQ1 and qualified last. Verstappen’s performance has brought out positive responses from team advisor, Helmut Marko.

Helmut Marko impressed by Verstappen despite a P2 qualification

Helmut Marko had nothing but praise for Verstappen despite the P2 qualification that Max himself wasn’t happy with.

“Incredible,” an impressed Marko said. “We completely rebuilt the setup. The handling was clearly improved and then came a mega lap from Max. He made no mistakes at all. The McLarens both made small mistakes, but Max’s lap was perfect.”

Max will start on the front row for Saturday’s Sprint in Shanghai 👏

A really tough session for Liam, but there are fresh opportunities to come tomorrow.

Result 🏁 HAM, Max P2 👏, PIA, LEC, RUS, NOR, ANT, TSU, ALB, STR. Liam P20.#F1 || #ChineseGP 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/ffXMyd0s63

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 21, 2025

Even with the slower RB21, Max is proving why he is the reigning champion. He was off Lewis Hamilton’s time by just 0.018s. Were it not for Hamilton’s near-perfect lap, the Dutch driver would hold the record for the fastest lap at Shanghai.

Max Verstappen will be starting P2 at the Sprint. He would hope to finish P1 or at least finish on the podium. However, the season opener showcased how unpredictable the season can be.