The competitiveness of the Crimson Bull has been hit with main questions after the F1 Spanish Grand Prix.
The primary race with the brand new regulation clamping down on flexi-wings made little distinction to McLaren, who secured their first 1-2 end of 2025.
In the meantime, an indignant Max Verstappen clashed with George Russell resulting in a time penalty which demoted him to tenth.
He left the paddock questioning whether or not he was even in a position to contend for the drivers’ title in opposition to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
“Possibly the second he gave up, in a means, his choices,” Spanish journalist Jesús Balseiro informed the F1 Nation podcast in Barcelona.
“I spoke to a different driver who is aware of about preventing with a much less aggressive automobile, Fernando Alonso.
“He was saying that possibly this was a reduction that [Max] doesn’t should battle anymore with worse arms for one thing which can be unimaginable in opposition to these McLarens.
“It doesn’t look sensible to lose a P5 on advantage which might have been a P3.
“I don’t perceive why Max was that mad.
“The scenario with Crimson Bull, having a set of laborious tyres and having to present again the place… possibly this was a scenario which wasn’t properly performed by Crimson Bull.”
‘The place will Crimson Bull be shut’ to McLaren?
Crimson Bull
Julianne Cerasoli added a stern warning: “We are going to look again at this grand prix and suppose it was when issues began to go actually fallacious for Crimson Bull.
“This monitor has plenty of quick corners. They have been doing properly within the quick corners, earlier than.
“Saudi, Japan, Imola – they appeared in a position to battle McLaren within the quick corners. Right here? Quick corners however medium pace.
“I used to be actually stunned by the hole in qualifying, three tenths. And the hole within the race too.
“Put that in Max’s account for frustration.
“Everybody anticipated Crimson Bull to be nearer to McLaren right here. And in the event that they’re not shut right here, then the place will they be shut?”
Verstappen later apologised for his half within the conflict with Russell.
Christian Horner revealed that Verstappen expressed remorse of their staff debrief, too.
However questions have additionally been requested of Crimson Bull surrounding their tyre technique, and their choice to inform Verstappen to let Russell by.
However an excellent larger headache surrounds the efficiency of the RB21 in comparison with F1’s quickest automobile, which is in McLaren’s storage.
Starkly, Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda certified final in Barcelona.
Crimson Bull have sunk to fourth within the constructors’ behind McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari who every have two drivers able to scoring factors.
