Red Bull Racing is set to evolve rather than revolutionize its approach to the 2025 Formula 1 season, focusing on refining its RB20 after a turbulent season marked by balance issues. Team principal Christian Horner has revealed that the team will prioritize incremental changes to their car, a strategy driven by the impending 2026 regulation overhaul and the constraints of the F1 cost cap.
After a dominant start to the season, Red Bull’s grip on the top spot loosened as balance problems with the RB20 allowed McLaren to surge ahead in the championship standings. Despite this, Horner has dismissed the notion of radical redesigns for 2025, emphasizing the need for measured evolution rather than wholesale changes, which “wouldn’t make sense” given the looming regulatory shift.
“In this business, you’re always juggling and you’ve got to put one foot in front of the other,” Horner explained. “You can’t project too far into the future. Long term in F1 is about two and a half months, and what we learn this year is relevant to next year.”
Horner confirmed that much of Red Bull’s current car would carry over into the RB21, as the team balances maintaining competitiveness in 2025 with planning for the seismic changes that 2026 will bring. “With the cost cap, unless there’s a significant performance upgrade, it doesn’t make sense to change [too much],” he added.
2026: Red Bull’s Biggest Challenge Yet
Looking ahead to 2026, Red Bull will face a new challenge as it partners with Ford to develop an in-house engine for the next generation of Formula 1 regulations. The collaboration with the American automotive giant signals a major shift for Red Bull, which will be producing both chassis and power units under the same roof for the first time.
Horner acknowledged the magnitude of the task, describing the venture as “by far our biggest challenge.” Red Bull has aggressively expanded its Powertrains division, recruiting 600 new employees and building an in-house factory to ensure the successful development of their new engine.
While Horner admits that the process will involve “short-term pain,” he remains confident that the long-term benefits of closer integration between the chassis and powertrain teams will outweigh the initial struggles. “We’ve already seen the benefit of having chassis and engine engineers sitting essentially next to each other as we start to integrate the ‘26 engine into the ‘26 car,” Horner said.
Wind Tunnel Woes: Red Bull’s Correlation Struggles
A key factor in Red Bull’s recent performance dip has been issues with their aging wind tunnel, which Horner candidly described as “a relic of the Cold War.” The outdated facility, which has been in use since 2005, has struggled to keep pace with the fine aerodynamic margins required under the current regulations, exposing flaws in Red Bull’s correlation tools.
Horner admitted that the tunnel’s limitations have become more apparent as Red Bull has pushed the aerodynamics of the RB20 to the limit. “As we’ve really started to push the aerodynamics of these cars now, the limitations show themselves up,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the base of Red Bull’s 2026 car will still be tested in the Bedford wind tunnel before the team transitions to a state-of-the-art facility currently under construction. Horner conceded that the outdated tunnel has served them well over the years but acknowledged its shortcomings: “It’s been good enough to produce some fantastic cars for us, but anything under five degrees [centigrade] or over 25 degrees becomes pretty unstable.”
Looking Forward
As Red Bull navigates a challenging period, balancing the development of the RB21 with preparations for 2026, the team is poised for an era of evolution. With McLaren currently holding the advantage, Horner and his squad are aiming to close the gap through incremental improvements while laying the groundwork for what could be a new powerhouse era in collaboration with Ford.
For Red Bull, 2025 will be about refining the RB21 to its peak potential while setting the stage for a revolutionary shift in 2026—one that could redefine the team’s future success in Formula 1.
