In 2023, Red Bull dominated Formula 1 like never before, with the exception of the race in Singapore. The team also seemed invincible in the early stages of 2024, but after the Miami Grand Prix, their dominance began to crumble. Teams like McLaren and Ferrari were closing in, and occasionally, Mercedes proved to be faster. In an interview with Auto, Motor und Sport, Adrian Newey reflected on the challenges Red Bull faced and how he noticed them early on.
The First Signs of Trouble
According to Newey, he saw the problems at an early stage, both in the second half of 2023 and at the beginning of 2024. “It was clear that the car was becoming more difficult to handle,” he said. While Max Verstappen was able to adapt relatively well to this, Sergio Pérez struggled more. Newey noted that the difference between the two teammates became increasingly apparent as the season progressed, especially in the first races of 2024.
The Difference Between Teammates
The problem became increasingly apparent: Max Verstappen was still able to control the car, but Sergio Pérez struggled to maintain his pace. “It didn’t suit Max well, but he is someone who can quickly adapt to difficult situations. Sergio was less successful in this,” Newey stated. Despite the problems beginning to emerge, Red Bull managed to handle the situation until the summer of 2024, as the car remained competitive enough for top results.
Nevertheless, Newey noted that the concerns within the team were not widely shared initially. However, Newey began to worry about the decline in performance early on, while others within the organization were slower to see the big problem. The issues that were gradually building up eventually became visible when the other teams got closer, with McLaren and Ferrari as the main challengers. This made the decline in Red Bull’s dominance increasingly clear.
