Verstappen's Performance: Red Bull vs. Racing Bulls
The 2025 Formula 1 season has sparked an intriguing hypothetical: what if Max Verstappen were competing with Racing Bulls instead of Red Bull Racing? This question, often raised by motorsport pundits, delves into the performance differences and underlying philosophies of the two Red Bull-owned teams. While some experts suggest Racing Bulls' vehicle might offer a broader operating window, the official stance from Red Bull emphasizes the fundamental differences in car design, making direct performance comparisons based on driver swaps impractical.
Ralf Schumacher, a well-known Sky analyst, posited that Max Verstappen could potentially contend for the championship even in a Racing Bulls car. His argument centers on the Racing Bulls' car possessing a wider operational scope, implying it could perform consistently across diverse circuits. Schumacher further suggested that if Verstappen were part of Racing Bulls, his extensive experience could significantly influence the car's technical evolution, leading to a different development trajectory.
Supporting this theory, current data indicates that Liam Lawson has accumulated more points for Racing Bulls than Yuki Tsunoda for Red Bull Racing, highlighting the perceived ease of use or broader performance window of the junior team's car. However, Red Bull has refrained from testing Verstappen in the VCARB 02, primarily to avoid undermining the perception of independence between their two Formula 1 entities, an aspect closely scrutinized by competitors.
David Coulthard expressed skepticism about the need for a Verstappen test, noting that teams already possess ample data to compare car performance. He believes that while Verstappen's input could offer unique insights, his exceptional driving ability would likely enable him to extract maximum performance from any car, regardless of its characteristics. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the distinct origins and development paths of the two cars preclude any direct transferability of performance insights.
Despite the official position, the narrative persists that the Racing Bulls car is more forgiving to drive compared to Red Bull's RB21. While the RB21 might offer superior peak performance, its narrower operating window demands a highly specialized driving style, which only a few, like Verstappen, seem capable of mastering consistently. Alan Permane, Mekies' successor at Racing Bulls, clarifies that the VCARB 02's perceived ease of driving stems from its design allowing engineers to easily optimize its aerodynamic window, rather than it being inherently "rookie-friendly." He asserts that top-tier drivers would also find it comfortable and capable of delivering strong results.
The idea of Max Verstappen piloting a Racing Bulls car remains a compelling, yet unrealized, scenario. Even if such a test could provide valuable comparative data, the imperative to maintain the appearance of independent operations for regulatory purposes prevents it. This contrasts sharply with past eras in Formula 1, such as Michael Schumacher's test with Sauber in 1997, when team independence was not the critical concern it is in contemporary motorsport.