SUMMARY
- Red Bull dominated the 2023 Fomrula 1 season.
- Red Bull's Chief Performance Engineer reveals that the RB20 is already 6 months old.
Red Bull is currently the best team on the grid. The 2023 season was simply stellar for the team. The Austrian-based team went on to claim 21 Grand Prix victories in a 22-race season. When the team first made its debut in 2005, everyone passed them off as an energy drinks manufacturer. This energy drinks manufacturer has now won 7 WDCs and 6 WCCs.
Given their performance in 2023, they will be looking to keep up the pace in the coming years. Fans and experts expected them to be working on the RB20 for the upcoming season during the winter break. However, a recent statement by Red Bull‘s Head of Performance Engineering has revealed that the team has already started to work on the 2025 car which will be named RB21.
Red Bull already starting to focus on 2025’s challenger
Given that Red Bull was dominant in 2023, every other team on the grid will now be gunning for the throne. Teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren have already had their fair share of their time on the throne. But this will not stop them from taking it back from Red Bull.
Through the winter break, most of the team will be working on their 2024 challenger. Even Red Bull was expected to do the same. During an interview, Red Bull’s Chief Performance Engineer, Ben Waterhouse stated that the RB20 is at least 6 months old.
“The RB20 is a car that is at least six months old, and we are already starting to move our attention to the RB21.”
Christian Horner says Ricciardo’s target is to put himself in position to return as Max Verstappen’s team mate in 2025.
“At the moment there’s only something in place until the end of the season. So there’s no thoughts or expectations beyond that. We’ve loaned him to AlphaTauri… pic.twitter.com/bmtfFl02AM
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) July 18, 2023
This means that Red Bull started working on their 2024 car as early as June or July. During the ongoing winter break, they have reportedly already started working on the 2025 challenger. Red Bull seems to be confident that the 2024 car is more than ready. This may not be good news for other teams.
If the other teams are once again found lagging at the start of the 2024 season, it could be another Championship for the Bulls and Max Verstappen. However, teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin are expected to make some major changes in their cars. this could help them challenge the reigning Champions for race wins and maybe even the Championship.
What is Red Bull’s driver lineup for 2025?
For the 2024 season, the lineup for Red Bull has been confirmed with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Verstappen has a contract with the team until the end of the 2028 season. So we can be sure to see the reigning Champion in 2025. The other seat on the other hand is all to play for.
Although Sergio Perez was able to finish 2nd in the WDC, he was nowhere near the pace of his teammate. Verstappen has gone on to finish over 20 seconds ahead of his teammate in certain races. There has also been a considerable gap between the 2 Red Bull drivers during qualifying.
🚨 Red Bull have already started focusing on their 2025 car
RB’s Head of Performance Engineering, Ben Waterhouse: “The RB20 is a car that is at least six months old, and we are already starting to move our attention to the RB21.”
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) January 5, 2024
Although the team did not face many problems this season as the car was dominant, the pace differential could be an issue when the team receives a challenge. In a close Championship battle between 2 teams, the concerned teams will require both their drivers to deliver in terms of results. There is doubt about Sergio Perez’s ability to keep up with Max. With Checo’s contract expiring at the end of the year, we could see another driver in Red Bull next year.
Daniel Ricciardo has been the clear favorite for fans to replace Perez in Red Bull. Since leaving the team in 2018, Daniel has not found much success with Renault and McLaren. This brought him back to his old team Red Bull. He replaced Nyck de Vries in AlphaTauri halfway through the 2023 season. Since then, he has shown some glimpses of the old Ricciardo. It is clear that even Red Bull is happy with him back on the team.
So we could see some fresh, but old faces back in Red Bull for the 2025 season. All this depends on Sergio Perez’s performance in 2024. Do you think Red Bull should extend Sergio Perez’s contract? Post your answers in the comment section below.