Red Bull Stops RB21 Upgrades In Midst Of Performance Issues

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Red Bull, the team that once made winning look as easy as ordering their energy drink at a convenience store, has officially thrown in the towel on their 2025 championship hopes. Team Principal Laurent Mekies confirmed what we’ve all been watching in painful slow motion—the RB21 development is about to “heavily slow down,” which is corporate speak for “we’re screwed, so why keep throwing money at this dumpster fire?”

The writing’s been on the wall since Max Verstappen’s crushing P9 finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Yes, you read that right—P9. The same Verstappen who used to lap entire fields for fun is now struggling to crack the top ten. Meanwhile, his teammate Yuki Tsunoda continues his grand tradition of looking completely lost in whatever car Red Bull puts beneath him.

Red Bull’s Performance Nosedive Hits Rock Bottom

Let’s be brutally honest here. Red Bull’s 2025 season has been their worst nightmare since 2022, and that’s saying something. Verstappen sits third in the Drivers’ Championship with 187 points, while McLaren’s dynamic duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are making the RB21 look like a weekend warrior’s track day special.

The four-time world champion has been working harder than ever, according to team boss Christian Horner, who probably wishes he could work some magic instead of just talking about it. “He’s working harder than I’ve ever seen him,” Horner said.

The RB21’s issues run deeper than a teenage existential crisis. Max Verstappen described the car’s performance window as “really small,”. When your reigning champion is fighting just to keep the car pointed in the right direction, you know something’s gone horribly wrong.

Why Red Bull Pulled the Plug On RB21 Development

Here’s where it gets interesting, and by interesting, I mean depressing for Red Bull fans. Mekies announced that the team will provide “minimal” upgrades for the remainder of the 2025 season, starting from the Dutch Grand Prix.

This decision makes perfect sense when you consider that Red Bull sits fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with a measly 194 points.  The 2026 regulations represent what Horner calls “the biggest reset in probably the last 60 years of F1.” New power units, active aerodynamics, and sustainable fuels mean teams need to shift their focus to completely different machinery. Red Bull’s partnership with Ford for their in-house power unit development suddenly becomes their lifeline rather than just another project.

Verstappen’s Heroic Effort In a Hopeless Situation

What’s almost tragic is watching Verstappen try to extract performance from the RB21 like he’s performing surgery with a butter knife. The man who once made winning look effortless now finds himself “working harder than ever,” according to Horner, just to finish in the points.

During the Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen managed third in the sprint and fourth in the main race—results that would have been considered disasters just two years ago. Now they’re minor miracles given the car’s limitations. The narrow performance window means Red Bull has essentially built a temperamental diva of a race car. One setup tweak too many and you’re fighting for points instead of podiums.

Looking Ahead: 2026 Or Bust

Red Bull’s decision to essentially write off the 2025 season might sting now, but it could prove genius if they nail the 2026 regulations. The new rules represent such a massive change that starting early could give them a crucial advantage over teams still fighting for this year’s championships. The 2025 season will be remembered as the year Red Bull learned that championship-winning momentum doesn’t last forever, and sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to fold your cards and focus on the next hand.