A compelling question for the 2025 Formula 1 season is how Max Verstappen would perform if he were driving for Racing Bulls rather than Red Bull Racing, especially considering that experts like Ralf Schumacher suggest the junior team might actually have a stronger foundation this year. This prospect, often discussed in F1 circles, revolves around Verstappen’s potential impact and the capabilities of the Racing Bulls car, focusing on the keyword Max Verstappen Racing Bulls Potential.
Ralf Schumacher, a former driver and current pundit, expressed optimism about Verstappen’s possible championship challenge with Racing Bulls, saying,
“I’d almost go as far as saying Max could theoretically fight for the championship with that car.”
He added his reasoning:
“The car is simply broader in its scope, so you can make it work on every circuit.”
Schumacher also speculates that Verstappen’s vast experience could steer the technical development of Racing Bulls in a very different and possibly more successful direction than the current path.
Comparing Performance and Development Between Red Bull and Racing Bulls
Looking at the current championship points, the data appears to support Schumacher’s theory. Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson has accumulated 20 points so far, while Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda trails with just nine. This contrast raises questions about the relative performance of the two cars.
Despite this, Red Bull Racing has not considered testing Verstappen in the Racing Bulls car, officially known as the VCARB 02. This is largely due to scrutiny from rivals and regulatory attention over whether the two teams, both under the Red Bull GmbH umbrella, operate independently. Allowing Verstappen to run Racing Bulls’ machinery would cast doubt on that independence.
David Coulthard, speaking at a recent More Than Equal event in Zandvoort, expressed skepticism about the value of such a test, pointing to the vast amount of data the teams already possess. He stated,
“They’ve got data. The data is based on all of the factual information. So, they will know how the two cars compare from all that information.”
Coulthard also noted that while the teams could analyze the cars thoroughly, the only missing element would be Verstappen’s subjective input on whether he might be faster or if the car suits him.
Coulthard further affirmed Verstappen’s ability by saying,
“I think he would perform like he does in any car. Blindingly fast and very difficult for his team-mate to beat him.”
Team Leadership Perspectives on Car Differences and Testing Feasibility
Helmut Marko, a key figure in Red Bull’s motorsport operations, has consistently dismissed the idea of Verstappen testing with Racing Bulls. When asked about this possibility, he responded decisively with a no, emphasizing that the car designs differ too much to offer transferable insights.
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing’s team principal, elaborated on this point in an interview with Sky, explaining,
“You know, where the cars are coming from is too different for anyone to transfer anything from a car to another.”
Mekies stressed that Formula 1 today comprises ten independent teams, each developing their cars based on unique ideas, challenges, and development paths, making comparisons or data sharing between cars ineffective.
“It’s what Formula 1 is today. You know, it’s 10 independent teams all coming with their own ideas about where to develop the car, what difficulties they found along the way, which development paths that they have ended up having due to that,”
he said.
“And there is nothing you could take from a car to another. It’s really down to how it was developed from early on.”
The Challenges and Traits of the Racing Bulls and Red Bull Cars
Despite Mekies’ stance, many analysts and television commentators note that the Racing Bulls car is generally a more forgiving and adaptable machine compared to the Red Bull’s RB21. The RB21 may have higher peak performance, but it operates within a tighter margin, demanding exceptional skill to extract its full potential. Verstappen remains the only driver capable of consistently managing this precision.
Alan Permane, who succeeded Mekies at Racing Bulls, offered a nuanced perspective. He highlighted that the car’s reputation as easy to drive is more accurately described as a vehicle that is easier for the engineering team to optimize aerodynamically.
“We can do what we need to do with the setup and extract the most from it, which just gives us performance,”
Permane explained.
He added,
“We need to get the setup right, the drivers need to be performing right, the car needs to be suited to the circuit, and then we can be top.”
Isack Hadjar, a Racing Bulls driver, finished less than two seconds behind Verstappen after 72 laps at Zandvoort, which has sparked speculation about whether Verstappen might perform even better with the junior team’s car.
Permane rejected the idea that the VCARB 02 is inherently rookie-friendly, stating,
“No, I don’t think so, honestly.”
He clarified,
“I think it’s what we discovered over the winter from last year to this year. We made a car, and you’re right, it undoubtedly helps when you have rookie drivers, but I suspect it’s a car that a top-line driver would also find comfortable to drive and would also be able to extract the performance from.”
Testing Restrictions and Historical Context of Cross-Team Drives
Despite fans’ curiosity about seeing Verstappen in a Racing Bulls car, this scenario likely remains a fantasy. Red Bull’s hierarchy recognizes that even if they wanted to conduct such a test for development references, it would compromise the strict independence required between the two teams and invite regulatory complications.
This level of separation contrasts with past decades. For instance, in September 1997, Michael Schumacher, while a Ferrari works driver, tested a Sauber C16 at Fiorano. At that time, Sauber used Ferrari engines, and Schumacher’s input was welcomed by both parties. Back then, concerns about team independence were less stringent and did not dominate team operations as they do today.
The current situation reflects how far Formula 1 has evolved in managing technical secrecy and competitive fairness within affiliated teams, further complicating any potential cross-team involvement for star drivers like Verstappen.
Additional reporting by Ronald Vording and Erwin Jaeggi.
