The pattern after the first six Formula 1 weekends of 2025 is clear: Max Verstappen can compete with McLaren over a single lap and compensate for some weaknesses himself, but on most Sundays he and Red Bull simply don't have the tools to fight the papaya cars over a full race distance.
The explanation for the smaller gaps in qualifying is twofold. First, Verstappen extracts everything from the RB21 and can push the car a little bit more as tyre wear isn't a limiting factor during a qualifying lap. It has earned him pole position in Suzuka, Jeddah, and most recently Miami.
