Max Verstappen has delivered a stark message to Red Bull: his team must "try" to replicate McLaren's "incredible" medium-speed performance and tire management.
Why it matters:
Verstappen, currently 97 points behind Oscar Piastri, faces the first potential failed title defense of his F1 career. This deficit is not due to his own driving, but rather the struggles of Red Bull's RB21, which has proven difficult to handle.
The big picture:
Conversely, McLaren's MCL39 has emerged as one of F1's most dominant cars, winning 11 of 14 Grands Prix this season and potentially surpassing 1,000 points. Their success highlights a significant performance gap, particularly in crucial areas.
The details:
Verstappen specifically praised McLaren's superior medium-speed cornering and exceptional tire management in both dry and wet conditions. He emphasized their wet-weather performance on intermediates, where "if you have good tyre management, [tyre preservation] even comes out more on that tyre, because the tyre is more fragile. It overheats even faster, and they definitely have that very well under control." He further noted the MCL39's "incredible" front-axle rotation without losing the rear, a quality Red Bull must aim to achieve.
What's next:
With 10 rounds remaining, Red Bull faces a daunting challenge to close the performance gap and provide Verstappen with a car capable of competing for wins.