Red Bull Racing has revealed its plans for the RB21, with Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan confirming the team has identified the critical areas to address in its quest to regain dominance in Formula 1 for 2025. After a blistering start to 2024, including four wins in the first five races by Max Verstappen, the team’s development missteps allowed rivals like McLaren to close the gap, relegating Red Bull to third in the Constructors’ Championship.
Despite the setbacks, Monaghan is confident that Red Bull’s development trajectory for 2025 is already mapped out.
Plans in Place, Eyes on the Prize
“So, it’s not as if we didn’t know, even at mid-season, what we want to try and achieve with next year’s car,” Monaghan shared. “All the plans are in place.”
The team acknowledges that bouncing back to championship-winning form will depend not only on their own work but also on the progress made by competitors like McLaren and Ferrari. Monaghan underlined that the challenge of developing the RB21 is further complicated by preparations for the revolutionary 2026 regulations.
“We know how much work we want to take on, what we want to try and achieve, and then we’ll see how much development work we need to put into it,” Monaghan added. “We want to challenge for next year’s championships, so it’s going to be quite a challenge.”
Reduced Development Time: A Double-Edged Sword
Red Bull’s wind tunnel and CFD testing allocations, already limited by their championship-winning 2023 season, have been further curtailed due to their competitive success. This constraint has undeniably impacted their ability to develop the RB20 and will carry into the RB21 project.
However, Monaghan dismissed the idea of using limited testing as a scapegoat. “It’s not necessarily about having just the time,” he said. “It’s having the time and drawing something from it, which is part of the skill.”
Winning Over Extra Testing
When asked whether Red Bull would trade a Constructors’ Championship title for additional development time, Monaghan was unequivocal. “I’d rather retain the Constructors’ Championship than look at the time,” he said. “That’s up to us.”
Looking Ahead
Red Bull’s ambitions for the RB21 revolve around regaining their edge and tackling the areas that exposed their vulnerabilities in 2024. While Verstappen remains a standout performer, the team is acutely aware that development shortcomings have hampered their ability to dominate.
The challenge is clear: integrate lessons from this season, innovate effectively with reduced testing time, and hit the ground running in 2025. With the RB21 in the pipeline, Red Bull is eager to reclaim its place at the pinnacle of Formula 1.