Zak Brown thinks Red Bull has still faced the “full consequences” of the loss of Adrian Newey, and 2026 may be even more disastrous with its new Red Bull power engine.
Red Bull announced the departures of several key players last season, led through the former Design Guru, who had played an instrumental role in the team’s good fortune since his arrival from McLaren in 2006.
Designing winning cars of the championship for Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, Red Bull announced in May that Newey would take a gardening license before finishing his arrangement with the team.
Upon returning from the Red Bull A formula 1 operation in Hypercar RB17, Newey’s departure of the fronts coincided with the first Red Bull escape in the aerodynamic era of the effects of the floor when the team made a false step with The floor they brought to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Red Bull returned to the top tier of the podium, but before Max Verstappen recorded his longest run of wins, 10 races without P1, since 2020. Red Bull and the Dutchman have recovered to win the drivers’ championship, the fourth in a row. Formation
Red Bull, however, missed out on the double as they fell to third in the Constructors’ standings with Sergio Perez unable to match his team-mate’s results in the RB20.
Newey’s launch followed months later via news that the loyal Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s sporting director, would say the team at the end of 2024 before joining Sauber as the team’s new principal this summer. Red Bull Will Courtenay Red Bull also left for a new team, joining McLaren in 2026.
McLaren CEO Brown thinks those departures from the big call may still trip up Red Bull in 2025.
“Red Bull has lost the other mandatory people and I think we have not yet noticed the complete consequences,” said De Telegraaf. “It’s an intelligent team, but you also have to look at culture and atmosphere. “
However, it’s in 2026 when the McLaren chief reckons Red Bull’s biggest challenge awaits as the team introduces their own engine, designed in partnership with Ford.
Red Bull Potrains created in 2021 and, from next year, Red Bull and Racing Bulls will compete in Formula 1.
“For them, 2026 will be an even bigger challenge,” Brown continued. “That’s when they come with their own engine for the first time, and I don’t remember a team with its own engine being immediately competitive in the first year.
“It poses a giant consultation mark. “
As for McLaren, the Woking team is hard at work designing their 2025 challenger, the MCL39, with Brown revealing the team is set to take some risks with the new car as they chase their first Drivers’ title since 2008.
“We are going to compete with 4 teams,” Brown said. “I can reveal that we will significantly expand the car. I am inspired through the brave team in terms of plans for next year.
“We will make many changes. In Formula 1, you must also take dangers if you need to be the best. I don’t think you have the option. “
McLaren won the F1 2024 F1 Progression War, the team succeeded in its innovations while its rivals were groping. Not only did it allow the team to win the groups against Ferrari, but Lando Norris also won the most productive P2 of his career in the driver rankings, Oscar Piastri was fourth.
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