The 2025 Formula 1 season kicks off this week with winter testing in Bahrain, where teams will put their new cars through their paces starting Wednesday.
While most teams are still prepping for the desert test sessions, Red Bull Racing is already ahead of the game. Max Verstappen and his new teammate Liam Lawson have already taken their first laps in the brand-new RB21.
Red Bull released footage of their shakedown runs on Tuesday, just one day before official testing begins at Bahrain International Circuit. These preliminary drives give teams a chance to check basic systems before the more intensive testing program starts.
The shakedown represents each team’s first real opportunity to see their new creation in action on a proper track.
Verstappen was tight-lipped about the team’s prospects after his initial run.
“I don’t really have an idea yet how competitive the car is,” the Dutchman admitted.
He did acknowledge that the team identified the weak points of last year’s car and will soon discover if they’ve made the necessary improvements.
The next few days should give Verstappen a better feel for the RB21’s potential. While testing times rarely tell the full story, drivers can quickly sense whether they’re comfortable in their new machinery.
These sessions also provide the first chance to eye up the competition.
With significant regulation changes coming in 2026, this season represents the final evolution of the current formula. Many teams are hoping to close the gap to Red Bull before the rules reset.
Will anyone challenge Verstappen’s dominance? That question starts getting answered this week in Bahrain.
