McLaren Warns Red Bull of Challenges Ahead in 2025 F1 Season
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has warned that Red Bull Racing may face significant setbacks in the 2025 Formula 1 season due to the departure of several key personnel. Brown believes the team has yet to experience the full impact of losing figures like Adrian Newey, whose contributions were pivotal to Red Bull’s success over the years.
Newey, a legendary F1 designer, joined Red Bull from McLaren in 2006 and played an instrumental role in crafting championship-winning cars for drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. However, Red Bull announced last season that Newey would be stepping back from F1 duties. After taking a period of gardening leave, Newey shifted his focus to the RB17 Hypercar project, effectively ending his frontline involvement with the team.
His exit coincided with Red Bull’s first stumble in the ground-effect aerodynamic era. The team introduced a new floor design at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which failed to deliver the expected performance gains. Although Max Verstappen and Red Bull recovered to win the Drivers’ Championship – the Dutchman’s fourth consecutive title – the team struggled to maintain its dominance. Verstappen endured his longest winless streak since 2020, going 10 races without a victory. Furthermore, Red Bull missed out on the Constructors’ Championship double, slipping to third in the standings. Sergio Perez’s inability to consistently match Verstappen’s performances in the RB20 contributed to the team’s decline in the overall standings.
Newey’s departure was the first in a series of high-profile exits. Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s long-time sporting director, announced his decision to leave the team at the end of the 2024 season. Wheatley, who has been a cornerstone of Red Bull’s operational strategy, will take on a new role as Sauber’s team principal starting in 2025. Additionally, Will Courtenay, Red Bull’s head of race strategy, is set to join McLaren in 2026, further depleting Red Bull’s roster of experienced leaders.
Zak Brown believes these departures may disrupt Red Bull’s performance in 2025. Speaking to De Telegraaf, Brown stated, “Red Bull has lost several key figures, and I don’t think we’ve seen the full consequences of that yet. It’s a good team, but you also have to consider the culture and atmosphere within the organization.”
Brown suggested that the loss of Newey, in particular, could pose long-term challenges for Red Bull. Known for his innovative designs and ability to adapt to regulatory changes, Newey’s absence leaves a significant void in Red Bull’s technical department. While the team remains strong, the impact of losing such a vital figure may become more apparent as the 2025 season unfolds.
Red Bull’s challenges are expected to intensify in 2026 with the debut of their Red Bull Powertrains engine. The team’s transition to an in-house engine program marks a significant shift from their reliance on Honda power units, which have been central to their recent success. Developing a competitive power unit under the new regulations will require significant resources and expertise, adding to the pressure on Red Bull’s reorganized leadership team.
Despite these challenges, Red Bull remains one of the strongest teams on the grid, boasting a talented roster of engineers and a competitive driver lineup led by Verstappen. However, the departures of Newey, Wheatley, and Courtenay raise questions about the team’s ability to maintain its dominance in a highly competitive environment.
McLaren, on the other hand, is positioning itself as a rising force in F1. The team has made significant strides in recent seasons and will benefit from the addition of experienced personnel like Courtenay. Brown’s comments reflect McLaren’s growing confidence as they aim to challenge Red Bull and other top teams for championship honors in the coming years.
As Formula 1 heads into a period of significant regulatory changes and technological advancements, Red Bull faces the dual challenge of maintaining its competitive edge while adapting to a new leadership structure. Whether the team can weather these disruptions and remain at the forefront of the sport will be a key storyline in the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
