‘I don’t design cars,’ Max Verstappen gives blunt response over Red Bull’s performance after Australian GP

Max Verstappen wasn't too impressed with Red Bull's performance at the 2025 Australian GP despite finishing in second place.

‘I don’t design cars,’ Max Verstappen gives blunt response over Red Bull’s performance after Australian GP

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Red Bull’s performance struggles have carried onto the RB21 chassis this year. Max Verstappen was unable to secure a win at the season-opener in Australia due to the challenger’s lackluster pace. Speaking upon the team’s woeful outing in 2025, Verstappen bluntly pointed out that he wasn’t the one designing the cars.

Max Verstappen was wary of Red Bull’s performance struggles continuing in the 2025 season. The Dutchman had bluntly accepted that the team wouldn’t be the fastest on the grid anymore. Moreover, Verstappen revealed that Milton Keynes expected better performance from the chassis at the pre-season test.

YouTube video

The Australian GP performances were no surprise for Verstappen as he took a jibe at the team’s capabilities. The Dutchman was questioned regarding his thoughts on places of improvement for the RB21. The 27-year-old did not mince his words and immediately came up with a sarcastic answer, claiming that he couldn’t do much from his end apart from showing up with good performances.

FS Video

Verstappen clarifies that he is not an aerodynamics specialist nor a designer capable of designing suspension. The 27-year-old sadly acknowledged that he had to work with whatever Red Bull provided him. Moreover, the reigning world champion notes that he could only provide feedback on the car but not design a front wing for the same.

Well, I’m not an aerodynamics specialist, nor can I design a suspension. I just drive with what’s given to me. And of course, I’ll always give my feedback on it, but I can’t tell you how to design a front wing.

Max Verstappen told Viaplay

Max Verstappen labels P2 finish a ‘good result’ for Red Bull

Red Bull clearly wasn’t the fastest on the grid despite Max Verstappen’s impressive P2 finish. Rookie Liam Lawson had a rather difficult outing after crashing out during the early stages of the race. After finishing on the podium, Verstappen was rather pleased with the results and did not feel that he couldn’t perform to his maximum capabilities in the race.

Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (via Motorsport.com)

Verstappen asserts that Red Bull scored very good results in Australia despite achieving just 18 points. Subsequently, the 27-year-old agreed that he had a quite difficult outing in Melbourne despite finishing in P2. The Dutchman reckoned that finishing second was one place better than he had anticipated as McLaren’s highly competitive pace seemed unsurpassable at first.

I think it was a very good result for us. It was quite difficult out there, you know? […] So, very happy with that! Basically, one place better than expected, so we take that!

Max Verstappen said in a post-race interview

The Dutchman is on the trajectory to secure his record-matching fifth drivers’ title victory. Red Bull’s performance struggles might cause problems for Verstappen in his championship ambitions this year. Regardless, the 27-year-old remains confident of his chances and looks forward to performing well with Milton Keynes over the season. Time will tell about how the Austrian constructor fares against the rivals ever-growing pace.

Can Max Verstappen remain at the top of his game in 2025?

Red Bull’s performance struggles were present even in the 2024 season when Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive driver’s title. Lando Norris seems prepared to take on the reigning world champion this time around. However, Verstappen’s extremely consistent performances will see him on par with Norris’ on the track.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via Formula 1)
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via Formula 1)

The 2025 season has just begun and Verstappen is highly likely to remain a tough competitor to Norris. Red Bull must find massive grounds of improvement over the season to remain in the championship contention. The Dutchman doesn’t need to win every race this season as long as he finishes in the vicinity of Lando Norris.

Verstappen now looks forward to the upcoming race at the Chinese GP. The 27-year-old has been a strong performer in China and now aims to contend for the race win. Liam Lawson on the other hand must get up to the mark and compete with the reigning world champion in order to retain his seat at the Austrian constructor in the coming season.