By Maybelene Marcelino
Despite giving a strong morale boost to Red Bull and a fitting end to his Honda partnership with a commanding victory in Japan, four-time world champion Max Verstappen is keeping his feet on the ground as he heads into the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Dutchman’s Japan GP glory
Verstappen’s win at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix was a masterclass in race craft, built on precise execution and strategic decision-making.
He soaked up intense race-long pressure to defy McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, securing a new track record of 1m 26.983s.
He crossed the finish line 1.4 seconds ahead of Britain’s Norris and 2.1 seconds ahead of Australia’s Piastri.
“It was a good boost for the team and now we can hopefully go into this week with a bit more confidence,” he said, according to Times of India.
Red Bull’s search for full form
While the Dutchman is enjoying the momentum, he still acknowledged RB21’s limitations and emphasized the need for further refinement, especially in tire management and race pace.
He stated that the Bahrain Grand Prix presents a significant challenge as it demands both technical prowess and physical endurance from the team.
“There are still things to improve on the car… hopefully we can maximize the performance of the car as best we can.”
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“Bahrain – completely different track, very tough on tires, tires overheating as well.”
“We still have work to do. But it does show that if we really nail everything, we can be up there,” he noted.
Verstappen, currently trailing behind Norris by a single point (61-62) in the championship standings, approaches the upcoming race with the determination to surpass merely occasional strong performances.
He highlighted that consistency and technical improvement are key to taking the lead and sustaining a title run.
With the Formula 1 season moving to the Bahrain International Circuit on April 13, the 27-year-old racing driver aims to test his limits further and see how much Red Bull has evolved since Suzuka.
FP1 absence for Iwasa’s debut
Verstappen is set to skip the opening practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
He will make way for Red Bull junior Ayumu Iwasa in FP1 on Friday, which will be the Japanese driver’s Red Bull debut on a race weekend.
Under current F1 regulations, teams must run rookies (drivers with two or fewer grand prix appearances to their name) twice in each of their cars over the course of the 2025 season.
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