Red Bull’s RB20 Struggles Lead to a Major Rethink for RB21: What’s Ch….read more
Red Bull Racing entered the 2024 Formula 1 season as the undisputed leader, following a period of dominance that saw them claim multiple championships. Their latest challenger, the RB20, made a commanding debut, helping Max Verstappen secure a string of early-season victories. However, as the season progressed, the competition grew fiercer, and Red Bull’s advantage began to shrink.
Now, Red Bull’s Technical Director, Pierre Wache, has offered insights into the team’s challenges with the RB20, highlighting the issues that hindered its consistency. With these lessons in mind, Red Bull is working on key changes for the RB21 in hopes of reclaiming total dominance in 2025.
A Flying Start Turns into a Tough Battle
The RB20 hit the ground running at the start of the 2024 season, delivering impressive results in the early races. Verstappen won seven of the first ten Grands Prix, cementing Red Bull’s position as the team to beat. However, while the Austrian team enjoyed initial success, rivals such as McLaren and Ferrari were rapidly closing the gap.
Both McLaren and Ferrari introduced significant mid-season upgrades that greatly improved their performance, making them genuine contenders for race wins. As the competition intensified, Red Bull found it increasingly difficult to maintain its dominant edge. The once-clear advantage they held started to fade, forcing the team to rethink their approach to car development.
Though Verstappen remained one of the most competitive drivers on the grid, his victories were no longer as straightforward as they had been at the beginning of the season. The battle for the top spot became tighter, and Red Bull found itself in a much closer fight than it had anticipated.
Aerodynamic Issues and the RB20’s Inconsistencies
Despite the RB20’s initial success, the car suffered from notable technical issues that affected its performance over the course of the season. Wache pointed out that one of the primary weaknesses of the RB20 was its unpredictable aerodynamic behavior. The car’s aerodynamics were described as “peaky,” meaning that it performed well under optimal conditions but became difficult to handle when track conditions varied.
This inconsistency made the RB20 challenging for drivers to extract maximum performance from in every race. Verstappen, known for his adaptability and skill, managed to mitigate some of the car’s difficulties, but even he struggled at times. This instability impacted Red Bull’s ability to dominate across different circuits, particularly on tracks where their rivals had made significant gains.
The peaky nature of the RB20’s aerodynamics led to variations in performance, making the car less forgiving in changing weather conditions or on tracks with different characteristics. This issue not only affected overall race pace but also made it harder to fine-tune the car’s setup from one race weekend to another.
How Red Bull is Fixing These Issues with the RB21
With the challenges of the RB20 now fully understood, Red Bull has shifted its focus to the development of the RB21, which is set to hit the track in the 2025 season. The team is making significant adjustments to ensure that the new car is more consistent and easier to manage across a wider range of conditions.
One of the key priorities for Red Bull’s technical team is to smooth out the car’s aerodynamic characteristics. By reducing its peakiness, the RB21 will offer a more stable platform that allows both Verstappen and his teammate to push the car to its limits without encountering unpredictable handling issues.
Additionally, Red Bull is expected to refine other areas of the car, including mechanical grip and suspension tuning, to further enhance overall stability. These changes will help the team maintain a strong performance level throughout the season, regardless of how their rivals develop their cars.
Will Red Bull Reclaim Its Dominance in 2025?
While Red Bull remains a formidable force in Formula 1, the 2024 season proved that their dominance is no longer guaranteed. The emergence of McLaren and Ferrari as serious challengers has created a much more competitive grid, and the fight for victories is expected to be even more intense in 2025.
However, with the lessons learned from the RB20, Red Bull is making the necessary changes to ensure they stay ahead of the curve. If the RB21 successfully addresses the aerodynamic inconsistencies of its predecessor, Verstappen and his team could once again find themselves at the top of the standings.
As Formula 1 continues to evolve, Red Bull faces one of its biggest tests yet. Will the RB21 mark a return to dominance, or will the competition continue to gain ground? The 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent history.
