Red Bull boss Christian Horner has conceded it will “take a little more time” to introduce the changes that can solve the problems with the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car.
Having won in Japan through an inspired Max Verstappen showing, Red Bull came crashing back to earth as the team encountered a challenging weekend in Bahrain.
Verstappen lamented persistent issues with his brake pedal and overheating as he struggled to a distant sixth, a one-place improvement upon where he had qualified.
The Dutchman explained how the track characteristics, coupled with blistering track temperatures, prevented him from replicating the heroics he produced at Suzuka.
READ MORE – Why Bahrain made it impossible for Max Verstappen to repeat Suzuka Red Bull victory
Horner agreed that Bahrain had exposed the RB21’s limitations, ones which Red Bull had been aware of but will not be remedied until developments are implemented.
“I think ultimately you can mask it a little through set-up, and we were able to achieve that last weekend in Suzuka,” Horner told media including Motorsport Week.
“But I think this race has exposed some pitfalls obviously very clearly that we have that we need to get on top of very quickly.
“I think we understand where the issues are, it’s introducing the solutions that obviously take a little more time.”
Red Bull has ‘completely different problem’
Horner admitted that the complications Red Bull is dealing with on this occasion aren’t identical in nature to those that derailed the squad in the previous campaign.
“It’s a completely different problem,” he added. “I think the characteristics are perhaps similar, but certainly the braking issue we didn’t have last year.”
The issue Red Bull must resolve
Horner clarified that enhancing the RB21’s balance on the entry to corners is vital to delivering Verstappen and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda a more competitive package.
“I think it’s clear we understand what the problem is, it’s implementing the solution,” he elaborated.
“It’s the entry phase to the mid-corner that needs addressing and giving him the ability and grip and confidence that takes carry speed into entry corners.
“Now that’s fundamentally an aero issue that we need to be able to give him that grip.”
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