Max Verstappen experienced one of his most challenging races in the ground effect era during the recent Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite beginning the race from seventh on the grid, he could only manage a sixth-place finish in what he later described as a “difficult” outing.
After securing victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen arrived in Bahrain focused on taking the top spot in the Drivers’ Championship. However, the Red Bull RB21 didn’t deliver as expected. Unlike previous iterations that dominated, this version of the car posed several issues for the four-time world champion.
Throughout the weekend, the RB21 was plagued by brake troubles and balance inconsistencies. These technical setbacks hindered its performance against rivals like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. As a result, Verstappen struggled during the practice sessions and could only secure P7 in qualifying.
On race day, Verstappen had a promising start, but his progress was derailed by two poorly executed pit stops. The first took 4.2 seconds, while the second lasted a lengthy 6.7 seconds, causing him to lose valuable positions and fall behind the competition. Overall, he was stationary in the pit lane for nearly 11 seconds.
Despite these setbacks, Verstappen fought his way back up the order. Following a Safety Car intervention, he managed to regain ground and overtook Pierre Gasly on the final lap, ultimately securing sixth place and eight championship points. Over the team radio, he expressed his frustration, stating: “Yeah, that was at least positive, that last lap. Oh my God, that was difficult. Jesus.”
His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, also had a challenging race. Starting from tenth, he finished ninth. Nevertheless, it marked the first time in four races — including a sprint — that the second Red Bull car scored a point.
Reflecting on the weekend, Verstappen candidly summed up his Bahrain GP by saying, “Basically everything went wrong.” He elaborated, noting a poor launch with excessive wheelspin and recurring problems from qualifying that carried into the first stint. Tire overheating was another key issue, especially compared to the teams ahead.
He admitted the outcome wasn’t ideal but attributed it to the car’s current limitations and how its tire behavior was particularly exposed on a track like Bahrain.
As it stands, Verstappen sits third in the Drivers’ Championship with 69 points, trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri by eight and five points, respectively.