2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for Red Bull Racing, and for team principal Christian Horner, the pressure has never been higher. As the team prepares for a season unlike any other in its history, one massive change looms large: for the first time in nearly two decades, Red Bull will not have the guiding hand of Adrian Newey, Formula One’s most celebrated and accomplished designer. This marks a monumental shift for a team that has become synonymous with innovation and dominance, with Newey’s visionary work playing a critical role in their success.
In a recent interview, Horner made a candid admission about the challenges the team faces as it enters this new chapter. Newey, who has been with Red Bull since 2006, has designed some of the most iconic F1 cars in history, and his departure from the forefront of car design leaves a massive void. While Newey remains with the team in a lesser capacity, his primary focus will shift, and Red Bull will no longer have his full-time expertise in crafting their race cars. This transition comes as the team tries to balance both the loss of a legendary figure and the pressures of maintaining their dominance on the track.
Horner, who has guided Red Bull through multiple championship-winning seasons, acknowledged the significance of this shift, admitting that 2025 could be the most challenging year for the team since their rise to prominence in the late 2000s. The team’s recent success, led by drivers like Max Verstappen, has raised expectations to an all-time high, and now the team must prove it can continue to compete at the top without its design guru at the helm.
“It’s going to be a huge transition for us,” Horner confessed. “Adrian’s influence on this team has been immeasurable. His design philosophy and approach to car development have been critical to our success. But as we look to the future, we’re preparing for a time when he won’t be the one directly leading the car development. This is a crucial moment in Red Bull’s history.”
The departure of Newey from day-to-day design duties marks the end of an era at Red Bull, and it raises a series of questions about the team’s ability to continue their winning ways without their star designer. For the past 15 years, Newey has been the mastermind behind Red Bull’s championship-winning cars, most notably the RB7, RB8, and RB9, which led to multiple Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships. His designs have been crucial in Red Bull’s rise from an underdog team to one of the most successful in Formula 1.
However, as much as Red Bull will feel the loss of Newey’s influence, the team is not entirely without a plan for the future. They have already begun to adapt to a post-Newey era, with talented engineers like Pierre Wache and Ben Hodgkinson stepping up to take on more responsibility in the design and development of their race cars. Wache, who has worked with the team for several years, is expected to take on a more prominent role in guiding Red Bull’s car development going forward. Meanwhile, Hodgkinson, who joined the team from Mercedes in 2021, has brought a wealth of experience in developing championship-winning cars and will likely play a critical role in maintaining Red Bull’s competitiveness.
Despite these steps forward, Horner made it clear that there are no illusions about the challenge ahead. “It’s going to take time,” he admitted. “Adrian’s shoes are huge to fill, and while we have some incredibly talented people here, we are entering uncharted waters. There’s no doubt we will face growing pains as we transition to this new phase.”
As the team moves into the 2025 season, Horner faces the difficult task of ensuring Red Bull remains competitive without Newey’s immediate influence. With teams like Mercedes and Ferrari constantly developing new technologies and pushing the envelope on car performance, Red Bull cannot afford to miss a beat. The pressure to perform is even more intense given the team’s current dominance. Red Bull has been the team to beat for the past few seasons, and Verstappen’s championship victories have only added fuel to the fire. Any sign of weakness or slowdown in development could invite new challengers to the front.
Moreover, there are ongoing concerns within the team about internal tensions. The internal “war” Horner referred to has been a topic of much discussion over the past year. Red Bull’s dominance has brought with it a heightened level of internal competition, as the team’s success has amplified both praise and scrutiny. Verstappen, in particular, has emerged as the undeniable star, but his assertive personality and fierce desire for victory have sometimes created friction within the team. How Red Bull manages these dynamics will be crucial as they move into a year without Newey directly shaping the car.
For Horner, the key to navigating this tumultuous period will be leadership. The team principal has been at the helm of Red Bull’s operations for over a decade, and his ability to keep the team focused, motivated, and unified will be tested as never before. Red Bull’s success in 2025 will depend not only on the team’s ability to adapt to the changes but also on Horner’s capacity to manage the growing internal pressures and external challenges.
Horner’s admission that 2025 could be the toughest season in Red Bull’s history signals an awareness of the gravity of the situation. However, it also highlights the resilience and determination that has characterized the team throughout its history. As the team heads into the season without Newey in the lead design role, the motorsport world will be watching closely to see if Red Bull can maintain its position at the top of Formula 1. If they succeed, it will only add to their legacy as one of the most remarkable teams in the sport’s history. If they falter, it will be a new era for Red Bull, one that could redefine their place in F1 for years to come.
