March 2025 – by GP Thread
Fresh off a triumphant victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen delivered the result Red Bull had been waiting for. After watching McLaren take back-to-back wins earlier this season, Verstappen’s performance in Suzuka marked a much-needed turnaround — and a perfect farewell to longtime engine partner Honda.
“Winning in Japan was an incredible moment for the team,” Verstappen said in Red Bull’s Bahrain GP preview. “It was the ideal send-off for Honda, who we’ve shared such a strong relationship and so much success with over the years.”
With that momentum in his pocket, the reigning world champion is now shifting his focus to the upcoming round in Bahrain, but he’s not expecting an easy ride.
“Bahrain Will Be a Tough Race”
Despite his win, Verstappen remains realistic about the challenges ahead.
“We’re still working on tyre management, and overall we’re lacking a bit of speed,” he admitted. “So we’ll need to push hard, keep improving, and get the most out of the car at every moment.”
That said, he’s looking forward to the challenge of the technical Bahrain International Circuit.
“I always enjoy racing in Bahrain. I’m excited to see what this week brings, and hopefully we can extract maximum performance from the RB21.”
Tsunoda: “Ready for a Calmer Week”
Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda also has his sights set on Bahrain — especially after a whirlwind week in Japan that saw him promoted back to Red Bull Racing in front of his home crowd.
“I loved racing at home, but I’m honestly happy to have a slightly quieter week now,” Tsunoda said. “It was a crazy experience, but I learned a lot in Japan.”
Now, the Japanese driver is eager to settle into the RB21 and build consistency.
“Bahrain is a circuit we all know well, but the conditions are completely different from Suzuka,” he said. “I need to get up to speed quickly and make sure I deliver in qualifying this weekend.”