McLaren has dominated the 2025 F1 season so far, as they lead the constructors’ championship by 172 points from Mercedes. They have won six of the eight races so far this season and have had a driver on the podium in every race. However, Red Bull could pose a threat to them at the Spanish GP.
Red Bull has had a disappointing season so far, with the RB21 being a difficult car to drive. Having said this, Max Verstappen has recorded two victories so far this season and is only 25 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. Red Bull is bringing upgrades to Barcelona and hopes the circuit’s characteristics will help them surpass McLaren.
Barcelona’s layout should help Red Bull
Max Verstappen is still in the hunt for his fifth consecutive world championship despite having a less superior car than McLaren. A 25-point deficit a third of the way through the season is catchable, especially as Verstappen and Red Bull have title-winning experience. And the RB21 has seen an increase in pace.
The upgrade package Red Bull introduced in Imola proved to work well as the car was lighter on its tyres and had more balance. Verstappen was able to extract the performance and comfortably win the race. However, the pace dipped again in Monaco. The slow-speed corners didn’t suit the RB21.
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Barcelona’s layout features more high and medium-speed corners, which suit Red Bull better. The naturally flowing layout of the circuit will help get the best out of the RB21. The races that Verstappen has won this season, Suzuka and Imola, have similar characteristics, giving Red Bull hope they can secure the victory of the Spanish GP.
There is also the Max Verstappen factor. The Dutchman won his first-ever race in Barcelona back in 2016. The four-time world champion has won the last three Spanish GPs in a row, and it is a track he excels at. This weekend could see Verstappen close in on the championship leaders.
Could strategy play a part in the Spanish GP?
The Barcelona circuit can be tough on tyres, so getting the strategy right is paramount. Over the years, we have seen drivers attempt to complete the race on a one-stop strategy. Sebastien Vettel executed this strategy well in 2020 to gain places. However, the two-stop strategy is preferred.
With sector three returning to its original and faster layout, it puts a lot of stress on the tyres. This makes it difficult to keep the tyres in good condition, meaning most teams will lean towards the two-stop strategy.
However, the upgrades Red Bull introduced do look to have improved how the RB21 looks after its tyres. While many teams opted for a two-stop strategy in Imola, Red Bull was able to run longer on a one-stop. This looked impossible a few races ago when the RB21 was using too much tyre. This is a major step forward for the Milton Keynes-based team as they look to take the fight to McLaren in Spain.
