RB21 not built for Verstappen says Red Bull

Verstappen rejects claims that Red Bull designed the RB21 for him, saying he adapts to the car rather than the car matching his preferences.

Verstappen says RB21 not built for him he adapts

Max Verstappen has rejected the idea that Red Bull’s F1 cars are built to fit his driving style. He told Chris Harris on the Ford Performance YouTube channel that the RB21 is not what he would choose, but is the fastest way to go around the track. He notes that he can adapt to what the car offers and that this adaptation is how he stays at the top this season, where he has scored a large share of Red Bull’s points while several teammates have left the team.

Red Bull has defended its approach, saying the goal is a quick car for all drivers rather than a car tailored to one person. Technical director Pierre Wache said the team moves away from a biased balance and toward speed, while Alex Albon described Verstappen’s preference for a sharp front end as a high sensitivity setup. The team maintains that the car is not built for Verstappen, but that the setup is designed to maximize performance for any driver.

This exchange highlights a long running tension in Formula One: the balance between driver input and engineering discipline. Teams aim for speed, but perception of bias can cloud trust within a squad. Verstappen’s candor about perfectionism shows how personal ambition pushes him to keep chasing improvement, even as he credits the package with the bulk of his success.

The scene also underscored how a driver’s feedback can steer development without becoming a claim of favoritism. Red Bull positions performance over personalities, a stance that may help explain sustained wins but can invite scrutiny when one driver dominates the points tally. The RB21 will be judged by results as much as by intentions.

Highlights

Time will tell how much a driver can shape a high speed package