Oracle Red Bull Racing kicked off their 2025 campaign with a filming day at the Bahrain International Circuit, offering a glimpse of the highly anticipated RB21 before the official pre-season testing commenced.
Max Verstappen and his teammate, Liam, took turns behind the wheel, gathering initial data and familiarizing themselves with the new machine under a breezy Bahrain morning.
Verstappen, the first to hit the track, completed a series of runs designed to capture footage for promotional purposes, but also to provide valuable feedback on the car’s initial handling.
With the RB21’s debut, the team aimed to ensure all systems were functioning correctly and to assess the driver’s comfort.
“It’s good to be back on track in Bahrain for this filming day before we head into testing,” Verstappen stated after his stint. “It is really nice to be back driving again and to get into RB21 for the first time. I got a few laps in, but today was more about getting comfortable in the car, seeing what fits and we will then learn more about the car over the next few days.”
The focus of the day was not on outright pace, but rather on gathering fundamental data and ensuring the car’s reliability. Verstappen emphasized the importance of addressing the limitations observed in the previous season.
“We know what last year’s limitations were, so it is important that we assess the pace over the next few days and see if we have improved,” he explained. “We don’t have a long time before the first race so, over testing, we hope to get a lot of mileage on the car and lots of runs in to understand where we can find time.”
Following Verstappen’s runs, teammate Liam took his turn, experiencing his first taste of the RB21. The team completed a total of 198.6 kilometers between the two drivers, providing a solid foundation for the crucial testing days ahead.
Christian Horner, Oracle Red Bull Racing’s CEO and team principal, expressed his enthusiasm for the new season.
“It’s great to get back at it here in Bahrain for our filming day, although, given the weather you would be excused for thinking we were still in Silverstone,” he remarked, alluding to the unexpectedly cool and windy conditions.
“It’s always exciting seeing a new car out on track for the first time and it was a good systems check in preparation for tomorrow when the RB21 takes to the track with some of its competitors.”
The filming day served as a vital precursor to the three-day pre-season test, where the RB21 will be put through its paces against rival teams.
The team aims to maximize track time to understand the car’s performance characteristics and gather crucial data for the season opener.
