2024 was the year when Red Bull, after two years of absolute dominance, lost its technical leadership in Formula 1 to McLaren. The Woking-based team won the Constructors’ Championship thanks to the superb MCL38, which excelled following its now-customary early summer update, while the RB20 failed to keep pace. Only an exceptional Max Verstappen allowed the Milton Keynes team to celebrate at least one title: the Drivers’ Championship.
At the end of the season, Helmut Marko outlined what the Austro-British team’s engineers are working on to reclaim their status as a benchmark in Formula 1 and continue competing for titles in 2025.
The weaknesses of the RB20 were so evident—at least in the second half of the season—that they were quickly identified and are now being addressed by the design team, which has lost Adrian Newey.
“We know what to do,” said the Austrian consultant for Red Bull. “The next car will need a wider operating window so that it doesn’t become unbalanced with slight temperature fluctuations or minor technical changes.”
“Our engineers are working precisely on this. Forty points of downforce are good, but what matters to me and the drivers are the four-tenths of a second. The drivability must be predictable for the drivers, so they can gain the necessary confidence in the car.”
“I am sure that next year we will face a tight battle at the top, and this is normal for the final year of a stable regulatory period. Teams will be closer in performance.”
“It’s standard practice in Formula 1 to copy successful concepts. The more stable the specifications remain, the more the designs resemble one another. This automatically raises performance levels.”
“Next year, we will give it our all. There will be some changes in the team, as there have been a few departures. But we are well-positioned, and I believe our team can provide Max with a car that will allow him to fight for the World Championship again.”
This week, Red Bull is expected to announce its new driver lineup for 2025. Max Verstappen is untouchable, and the RB21 has been designed around his preferences. However, Liam Lawson is expected to replace Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate.
“Since we have the fastest and best driver in Formula 1 with Max, it’s natural to take his preferences into account when developing the car’s driving characteristics. I’m confident that, as long as we give him a competitive car, he will stay with Red Bull.”
“In the coming days, we will announce the updates regarding our driver lineup for next year,” concluded Marko.
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