Musim Pertama Red Bull Tanpa Newey - Bisakah Dominan Lagi?

Summary

After losing their constructor’s title to McLaren and finishing third in the final standings, Red Bull faces a significant challenge in 2025. Despite Max Verstappen’s continued success, the team struggled with the performance of the RB20, particularly its balance and understeering issues. These problems were exacerbated by outdated wind tunnel facilities and a lack of data correlation, leading to difficulties in development. The sudden changes in FIA regulations, including stricter flexi-wing tests, added to their frustrations. As the team transitions into 2025, with no Adrian Newey involvement, Red Bull's ability to bounce back remains uncertain, and all eyes will be on Verstappen to see if he can secure a fifth championship.

Takeaways

• 😀 Red Bull lost the constructor's title and finished third overall in the standings, which motivated them to strive for dominance in 2025.
• 😀 Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive drivers' title, but Red Bull's failure to retain the constructor's title was seen as a major setback.
• 😀 Red Bull struggled to find solutions to the performance issues of the RB20 throughout the 2024 season, relying heavily on Verstappen's exceptional talent to mask the car's weaknesses.
• 😀 Christian Horner admitted that Red Bull became complacent, relying too much on Verstappen and not listening to Sergio Perez's concerns about the car's performance.
• 😀 Verstappen expressed frustration with the RB20's performance mid-season, which led to a disappointing battle against McLaren for the constructor's title.
• 😀 Red Bull is facing significant challenges in 2025, with a focus on improving the performance of the RB21 and avoiding a repeat of last season's mistakes.
• 😀 The team faced difficulties with their aging wind tunnel, which hindered their ability to develop the car effectively. They are working on a new, more modern wind tunnel expected to be ready by 2026 or 2027.
• 😀 Red Bull's struggles were exacerbated by their inability to make precise adjustments in the car's aerodynamics, which allowed competitors like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes to capitalize on smaller improvements.
• 😀 The FIA has introduced stricter flexi wing tests for 2025, which impacted Red Bull's design and forced them to reconsider their plans for the RB21's wing components.
• 😀 The departure of Adrian Newey from Red Bull raised concerns about the team's future success, as his design expertise was instrumental in their past dominance, and now they must adapt to new leadership in the technical department.

Q & A

Why did Red Bull struggle with the constructor's title in the previous season?

Red Bull struggled to maintain their constructor's title mainly due to issues with the performance of the RB20 car, despite Max Verstappen's individual success. The team had difficulty addressing balance issues and understeer, and they failed to find consistent solutions, leading to McLaren overtaking them in the constructor's battle.

What was Max Verstappen's role in Red Bull's performance issues?

Max Verstappen's exceptional driving skills somewhat masked the car's performance issues. His superior talent allowed him to deliver strong results, but this also made the team complacent, leading them to ignore complaints from Sergio Perez about the car's problems, particularly with balance and understeer.

What was the significance of the wind tunnel issue for Red Bull?

Red Bull was still using an outdated wind tunnel, a facility more than 80 years old. This caused difficulties in achieving accurate aerodynamic simulations, which hindered the development of the RB20 car. The team is working on building a new, more modern wind tunnel expected to be operational around 2026 or 2027.

How did the FIA's new wing regulations impact Red Bull?

The FIA introduced stricter rules on wing flexibility, which affected Red Bull, who had been developing a flexible wing for the RB21. The new regulations meant Red Bull had to redesign or modify their wing components to comply with the new tests, unlike teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, who were already prepared.

What challenges did Red Bull face after Adrian Newey's departure?

Red Bull faced significant challenges after Adrian Newey, the team's genius designer, left midway through the season. His departure raised concerns about the team's future design capabilities, especially since many of Newey's warnings about the RB20's performance issues were ignored.

What changes did Christian Horner acknowledge within the team?

Christian Horner admitted that Red Bull made mistakes in not heeding Adrian Newey's warnings about the RB20's performance issues. He recognized that the team needed to improve its internal processes and was open to changes under the leadership of Pierre Wache and Enrico Balbo in the technical division.

Why is the 2025 season considered a critical year for Red Bull?

The 2025 season is critical for Red Bull as it marks the first year without Adrian Newey's direct involvement in car design. The team must navigate this transition and address performance issues with the RB21. If the season is not successful, it could affect their chances in 2026, especially with Max Verstappen's high expectations.

How did Red Bull's development strategy differ from other teams like McLaren or Ferrari?

While Red Bull focused heavily on balancing the RB20 and addressing its issues, teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes were able to dedicate more resources to refining smaller, more intricate components of their cars, such as the floor and flexible wings, giving them a competitive edge.

What is the expected role of Max Verstappen in Red Bull's car development in 2025?

Max Verstappen will likely remain the focal point of Red Bull's car development in 2025. With limited input from other drivers like Sergio Perez and new recruit Liam Lawson, Verstappen's skills and feedback will be crucial for shaping the car's performance.

What is Red Bull's outlook for the 2025 season?

Red Bull's outlook for 2025 is cautious and skeptical, with much focus on whether Max Verstappen can still secure a fifth world championship. The team is also using 2025 as a transitional year, with eyes set on making stronger progress for 2026.