While he had an unprecedented advantage in 2023, in 2024 Max Verstappen already had to work hard for another, fourth consecutive world championship title – Red Bull’s competitiveness declined, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes also improved, the Dutchman from the Spanish Grand Prix in June until he didn’t even win a race until the Brazilian Grand Prix in early November.
In the end, due to fluctuations in the performance of the chasers, the title defense was still managed, but 2025 will be even more difficult – especially if the team does not advance with the RB21, which is exactly what the world champion’s father, Jos Verstappen, fears.
“I have doubts about the prospects. Red Bull should build a car that is more predictable in all conditions. If we look at the second half of 2024, there is no reason to be optimistic. Red Bull simply couldn’t come up with a consistently fast car. Why should this year be any different?” – he said to F1 Insider.
Verstappen pointed out that, among others, Red Bull Racing lost its star designer, Adrian Newey, who transferred to Aston Martin, and from 2025 Jonathan Wheatley, one of the pillars of the team, working as an “everything” boss from the beginning, will continue elsewhere, as Sauber’s team principal.
“Yes, there are those: the fact that the car has not improved since Newey left. The upgrades just didn’t work the way they were supposed to. But I’ve talked many times about why there is a danger of the team falling apart, so let’s leave it at that. It is certain that a big task awaits Red Bull in 2025″ – he explained, referring to the fact that he had previously stated several times that he thought Christian Horner was unfit to manage the team.
According to his father, he is in favor of the champion because last year he was able to win with a car weaker than his opponents:
“In 2023 he was amazingly good, 2024 was more difficult for him because he didn’t have the best car, so he always had to drive to the limit without making any mistakes. He performed very well. He has always given 100 percent, but last season it showed much better. People also realized that Max himself makes the difference.”
Source: www.vezess.hu
