Max Verstappen pinpointed Red Bull’s qualifying pace as their Achilles’ heel after settling for second on the grid for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix. The reigning champion, who dominated last season, admitted the RB21 lacks the outright speed needed to challenge Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who snatched pole by a slim 0.059 seconds.
“We’ve got solid race pace, but in single-lap runs, we’re just not there yet,” Verstappen told reporters post-session. “It’s frustrating because the car feels balanced, but we need more edge to unlock that extra tenth.”
Teammate Sergio Perez echoed the sentiment, qualifying fourth behind Mercedes’ George Russell. Red Bull’s early-season tweaks, including aero updates, haven’t fully addressed the deficit exposed under Sakhir’s floodlights.
Despite the setback, Verstappen remains optimistic for the race. “Starting P2 isn’t the end— we’ve won from worse. But we must fix this quali issue fast, or it’ll bite us in tighter fights ahead.”
Ferrari’s strong showing, with Carlos Sainz in fifth, signals a potential shift, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked out the third row, adding pressure on the Milton Keynes squad.
