Red Bull showcased its 2025 F1 car along with a shakedown/filming run in Bahrain, where they were joined by Mercedes and Williams too for its run.
Red Bull is the latest to showcase its 2025 F1 car ahead of the official pre-season test. The launch was coupled with a shakedown/filming run at Bahrain International Circuit where Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson together completed 198.6 km from the allotted kilometers.
Verstappen had the first go followed by Lawson, as the two now gear-up for the three-day F1 test at the same venue from Wednesday onward. The Red Bull pair were not the only ones undertaking filming run as Mercedes had their first one of the 2025 season as well with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Having undertaken their launch on Monday itself, Mercedes kept it late for a shakedown unlike Williams, who completed their second filming run in Bahrain after the first one in Silverstone. It was, however, their first time in the 2025 livery, which was revealed in a group launch last week in the O2 arena in London.
“It’s good to be back on track in Bahrain for this Filming Day before we head into Testing,” said Verstappen. “It is really nice to be back driving again and to get into the RB21 for the first time. I got a few laps in, but today was more about getting comfortable in the car, seeing what fits and we will then learn more about the car over the next few days. We know what last year’s limitations were, so it is important that we assess the pace over the next few days and see if we have improved.
“We don’t have a long time before the first race so, over Testing, we hope to get a lot of mileage on the car and lots of runs in to understand where we can find time. At the moment I don’t have targets for the season as we don’t know how competitive we are, but I am looking forward to getting back to racing in general, especially driving in Spa and Zandvoort, which are my favourite tracks on the calendar.”
His teammate Lawson stated: “First impressions are good, it is always exciting to get in the car for the first time. For me, I have never started a full season in Formula One, so the preparations and days like this Filming Day are good for me. We are also learning about a new car as well and so far the RB21 feels good; the next few days of Testing will be beneficial.
“I am most looking forward to just going racing, to have a full pre-season with a Team and learn along the way. This isn’t a new Team to me; I knew so many people here already and I am very excited to be working with such a talented group. My target, simply, is to be fast and to be where the Team needs me to be. The goal is to regain the Constructors’ this year and if we can achieve that then it means I am doing my part. Collectively all of our goals are the same and that is to be as far up the front as we can.”
And team boss Christian Horner added: “It’s great to get back at it here in Bahrain for our Filming Day, although, given the weather you would be excused for thinking we were still in Silverstone. It’s always exciting seeing a new car out on track for the first time and it was a good systems check in preparation for tomorrow when the RB21 takes to the track with some of its competitors.”
Here’s videos: https://x.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1894357677851250750
https://x.com/WilliamsRacing/status/1894421633772683419
Here’s Red Bull in Ford presentation
Here’s Mercedes showing 2025 car
Here’s George Russell on Max Verstappen scene
Here’s F1 drivers and teams on launch
Here’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli on Ayrton Senna
Here’s George Russell recognising his role in 2025
Here’s James Vowles on flexi wing saga
Here’s Williams F1 trio on swearing debate
Here’s more on Williams shakedown
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