Red Bull, led by Christian Horner, has been overshadowed by McLaren so far this season, as the Austrian team has just one victory in 2025.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen snatched victory from McLaren in Japan but hasn’t had a car capable of keeping up with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at most events.
The F1 Miami GP saw the British team go up to the next level as Piastri won ahead of his teammate. McLaren were so dominant that Norris was 33 seconds ahead of third-placed George Russell.
This level of dominance is rare, but McLaren is yet to show any major weakness in 2025. The British team has also been the benchmark at every track so far.
As McLaren continues to build their advantage at the top of both championships, Red Bull boss Christian Horner explained the problems Red Bull had in a post-race written media session.
Horner on the problems Verstappen “hasn’t been happy with”
“I think we had some issues with the brakes that Max hasn’t been happy with, and I think that might be compounding or contributing to the issue. But I think that once the drivers talk about a numbness in the car, things start to overheat.
“So plenty to go away and reflect on after this race, but I think McLaren just do a better job of keeping their temperatures certainly on this type of circuit at this venue under control.”
The brakes are incredibly sensitive in Formula 1, and multiple drivers locked up at the end of the back straight for the Turn 17 hairpin.
Verstappen, in particular, immediately notices the slightest of issues with the car and struggled at times with the difficult to drive Red Bull.
The four-time world champion has been able to snatch three pole positions from the papaya cars this year but is rarely able to keep up over a race distance.
Horner convinced McLaren were at their strongest on the medium tyre in F1 Miami GP
In Miami, Verstappen led the early stages after a first lap battle with Norris that saw the British driver get muscled onto the runoff area at Turn 2.
Both the British driver and Piastri were clearly quicker than the race leader and once they eventually battled past, the world champion had no answer and finished 40s away in P4.
However, the Red Bull boss isn’t completely at a loss as to where the team needs to improve and suggested the performance on the medium tyre as a key area to work on.
Horner said: “It’s important to understand obviously, McLaren are the standout car, they have the same kind of advantage that we saw a couple of years ago and they’re obviously doing a very good job in managing temperatures.
“If you look at the medium stint there, at the end of the medium tyre stint, that was probably where they were the most competitive, so that’s what we need to focus on, I think we had brake issues that have compounded the problem in the race but that’s what we need to understand moving forward.”
The upcoming races will pose different challenges to Miami with the punishing Imola and Monaco Grand Prix on the horizon in May.
