Red Bull is taking an evolutionary path for its current car, the RB20, aiming to develop an updated version for 2025. In a tight competition with McLaren for the title, the Milton Keynes-based team has decided against making radical changes. This decision reflects the belief that investing in major changes is not beneficial at this stage.

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, emphasized the need for a pragmatic approach to face challenges: “You can't look too far ahead. In Formula 1, the long term is about two and a half months”, he said. This highlights the importance, for the Austrian team, of focusing on immediate performance and continuously learning from the current season to prepare for the future.

Addressing the challenges of the RB20
The 2024 season has been particularly challenging for Red Bull, with the RB20 showing significant issues. The car has struggled with cornering and handling over curbs, leading to a drop in performance, especially after the Austrian Grand Prix. Horner reassured that there are no plans for radical innovations with the new RB21: the upgrades planned for Austin aim to improve the RB20 and prevent these problems from recurring in 2025.

Looking forward to the future
Looking ahead, the RB21 will also be the last car designed using the current wind tunnel, which is considered outdated compared to competitors. Horner explained: “We have a 60-year-old wind tunnel. It has worked well, but it has its limits.” With new regulations coming in 2026, when Red Bull will launch its own engine, the team recognizes the importance of investing in new technologies to remain competitive in the long term.

Amid increasing pressure from the other teams, like McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari, Red Bull aims to build on what it has already learned, ensuring continuity in its operations. The current strategy seeks not only to maintain competitiveness in the championship but also to make the team capable of facing future challenges.