Red Bull’s new RB21 has launched in Bahrain as it looks to provide Max Verstappen with the machinery to win a fifth consecutive drivers’ championship.
Verstappen has won all three of the drivers’ titles since the ground effect cars were introduced in 2022, following on from his maiden championship in 2021. Red Bull released images of the RB21 before running it during a filming day at the Bahrain International Circuit, and says the new car is “an evolution of a generation of Red Bulls, which have dominated recent seasons”.
Red Bull remains secretive about the details surrounding the new car, releasing limited information about its technical specification as it looks to bounce back from a challenging second half of 2024. Having won seven of the first ten races, Verstappen would go ten events without a victory as the car became increasingly difficult to drive, but two wins in the final four races showed signs of recovery.
Ahead of his title defense, Verstappen says he believes Red Bull is on the right path but he is relishing the prospect of a close battle with multiple other drivers.
“I think we do understand where the issues were coming from [in 2024] but now it’s about trying to just add a better balance to the car,” Verstappen said. “Of course you change maybe a few approaches but I guess only time will tell how much we have found. I find it really difficult to say at the moment but hopefully just heading in the right direction.
“I haven’t really driven a lot on the sim to be honest, I prefer to wait until I’ve driven the real thing.
“I think it’s good for the sport (if it’s close). That’s also, I think, why the rules were set like that. So, I do hope that it’s exciting and that we get a lot of different winners, teams as well. That would be great for the sport.”
The RB21 is the first car without significant input from former chief technical officer Adrian Newey, who announced his departure from Red Bull after nearly two decades with the team last year. Newey will start work at Aston Martin early next month, while Red Bull’s technical team continues to be led by Pierre Wache, who has held the role of technical director since 2018.
Both Verstappen and new teammate Liam Lawson will spend time behind the wheel on Tuesday in Bahrain for the initial shakedown, sharing the track with Mercedes and Williams prior to the start of pre-season testing on Wednesday.
