Red Bull eyes wider operating window for new RB21 F1 challenger

Red Bull believes that improving the balance of its car, rather than delivering more downforce on its RB21, is key to its Formula 1 title ambitions in 2025.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit has faced some struggles throughout the season as its main rivals squandered early leads at the Miami Grand Prix.

and though max verstappen Ending the year as drivers’ champions, in part due to the good points buffer built up at the start of the season, the team finished third in the constructors’ standings. mclaren And ferrari,

Keen not to lose again in 2025, the team is confident, after getting to the bottom of what happened to its car this year, it can address the key elements needed to fight back.

Writing in his regular column in Speedweek, Red Bull Motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said that the mentality was no longer just about chasing more downforce.

“We know what to do,” he said. “This car needs a wide working window, so that it does not immediately become unbalanced if minor temperature fluctuations or minor technical changes occur.

“Our engineers are working on exactly this. Forty points of downforce is good, but four tenths on the stopwatch is what interests me and the drivers. Handling must be predictable for the driver to generate the necessary confidence.

With the field being more competitive this year, Red Bull is under no illusions that the battle will probably be even tougher in 2025 if the rules remain unchanged.

“I am sure we will face a tough competition at the top next year and that is normal in the last year of the regulation period,” he said. “The grounds will be close to each other.

“It is common to copy successful concepts in Formula 1. And the longer the specifications remain stable, the more similar the cars become. This automatically increases the level of performance.

“We will give our all again next year. There will be some changes in the team, like some people are out. But we are in a good position and I believe that our team is able to give Max a car that will enable him to fight for the world championship again.

Red Bull is set to announce its 2025 driver line-up before Christmas amid speculation it could walk away from it sergio perez After a disappointing season for the Mexican.

Marko said it’s clear the team will design its RB21 around Verstappen’s driving style – so whoever comes along with him will need to adapt to him.

“Since we have the fastest and best driver in the field in Max, it’s natural that we take into account his preferences when it comes to developing the car’s handling characteristics,” he said.

“I’m sure as long as we give him a competitive car, he’ll stay here red bull racing,

“We will be announcing news in the next few days about what the driver pairings will look like next year. There is a lot of speculation and transfer fees being mentioned which is complete nonsense.