Following an emphatic win by Max Verstappen in the Japanese GP, Red Bull easily retained their constructor’s title in the 2023 season. In the next race, the two-time defending world champion may well become a three-time world champ. As such, people might expect the most dominant team on the paddock to back off for the remainder of the season. However, McLaren’s Formula E driver for 2024, Sam Bird, claims Red Bull will not slow down this season, via Spotify’s F1: Chequered Flag Podcast.
With a car that has as few weaknesses as the RB19, the common belief within the paddock is that Red Bull has halted any developments on their car this season and has shifted their focus to next year’s car. With no other car even close in competition, the move might not be the worst idea the team has had this season. Having all but secured the driver’s title, too, fans might have expected Red Bull to slow down and give us more entertaining races, but Bird downplayed all such hopes.
Max Verstappen and Co. will not lose again
With the Japanese GP done and dusted, the emphasis was on two things- Red Bull retaining their constructor’s title and the incredible rise of McLaren. Addressing the latter, F1: Chequered Flag Podcast host Rosanna Tennant asked Formula E driver his thoughts on whether his team could win a race in the remaining races in Formula One.
“Given the dominance of Red Bull, I cannot see anybody, realistically, winning another race. I know Ferrari managed to get one. But looking at the circuits that we’ve got lined up ahead of us, No, I can’t realistically see anybody fighting.”
The tale of Red Bull’s dominance does not end with the 2023 season. As we head into the 2024 season, the team from Milton Keynes is expected to continue the same level of dominance as they did this season. With the current regulations not changing till the onset of the 2026 season, not only could Red Bull lead the grid in 2024, but they would also stand at the top of the podium in 2025, should no other team be able to catch up.
Red Bull could be champions in 2024 too
The latest regulations have greatly benefitted Red Bull in their quest for complete domination. As the regulations persist, the smart money would be on the Austrian team winning their third consecutive title next season and their seventh overall. While a case can be made for the next-best teams to catch up, Mercedes can be written off the list, as Hamilton himself claimed there’s no scope for Mercedes in 2024.
During the post-race press conference in Singapore, Hamilton addressed whether Red Bull’s loss marked the beginning of the end of their dominance. The 7-time world champion replied that the loss was in no way indicative of other teams catching up to the Austrian team as they are already “so clear ahead” of everyone. Judging from the last couple of races, McLaren could emerge as the potential team to cause some trouble to Red Bull, but even they won’t be able to topple the Austrian giants from the top of the podium- experts believe.
