Red Bull entered the 2025 Formula 1 season as defending champions, yet the mid-season picture tells a different story. The team have slipped to fourth in the Constructors’ Standings, trailing McLaren by 365 points. Max Verstappen continues to deliver world-class performances, but inconsistent car pace and the lack of support from the second seat have left Red Bull off the title fight. Adding to the shake-up, Laurent Mekies replaced Christian Horner as Team Principal in July, marking the start of a new chapter at Milton Keynes.
Verstappen’s Standout Victories in Japan and Imola
Despite the team’s struggles, Verstappen has produced two memorable wins. In Japan, he stunned the paddock with a record-breaking pole lap of 1m 26.983s at Suzuka. That lap set him up perfectly to win ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
In Imola, Verstappen’s brilliance was on display again. Starting from second, he executed a daring move on Piastri at Tamburello and claimed his second win of the year.
One-Sided Qualifying Battles
- Verstappen 12-0 Tsunoda
- Verstappen 2-0 Lawson
The gulf between Verstappen and his teammates remains vast. Yuki Tsunoda managed a P5 in Australia with Racing Bulls, but his best qualifying with Red Bull has been P7 in Belgium. Liam Lawson, who briefly partnered Verstappen, was also no match.
Race-Day Gap Between Teammates
- Verstappen 11-1 Tsunoda
- Verstappen 2-0 Lawson
Verstappen dominates on Sundays too. Tsunoda’s only edge came in Austria, when Verstappen retired after contact with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Verstappen currently holds third place in the Drivers’ Standings with 187 points, while Tsunoda lags in 18th with only 10 points. Lawson has 20 points with Racing Bulls.
High Point – Suzuka Masterclass
Although his Imola overtake on Piastri was stunning, Verstappen’s Japanese Grand Prix remains the standout. His flawless pole-to-win performance reminded everyone why he is still the driver to beat.
Low Point – Austria Home Disappointment
Red Bull’s lowest point came at their home race in Austria. Verstappen retired after Antonelli’s collision, while Tsunoda finished 16th. That point-less outing highlighted the team’s fragile position when Verstappen is absent from the fight.
Mekies Era – Big Questions Ahead
The arrival of Laurent Mekies as Team Principal signals change, but the to-do list is clear. Verstappen ended speculation about a Mercedes move by confirming his stay, but the team must fix its car performance and finally secure consistent results from the second seat.
Mekies summed up the ambition: “There is only one desire at Red Bull. And it goes from the board to anybody at Red Bull F1. They are here to fight for the wins, to fight for the championships.”
Final Take – Verstappen vs the Bigger Picture
The Red Bull mid-season report for 2025 reflects a team in transition. Verstappen continues to shine, but without support from the second seat and with car weaknesses exposed, Red Bull must regroup quickly if they want to return to championship contention.
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