The buzz around the Formula 1 paddock is that Red Bull’s latest racing machine, the RB21, might just be a game-changer. This exciting insider update comes straight from the horse’s mouth, as Formula 1 icon Nigel Mansell reveals that the defending World Champion, Max Verstappen’s team seems to have made significant strides during the off-season.
Despite his personal inclination towards seeing Lewis Hamilton and his old team, Ferrari, reclaim their throne in F1, Mansell has been upfront about the fact that Verstappen and Red Bull are not ones to back down. With the highly-anticipated F1 2025 season on the horizon, the championship could be a nail-biter.
In the previous F1 2024 season, Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes all savored their moments of glory with race-winning pace. This has only amplified expectations for an intense title fight in the upcoming season. The stakes are particularly high for Verstappen, who aims to clinch his fifth consecutive World Championship.
Simultaneously, Red Bull is on a mission to reclaim the Constructors’ Championship top spot. The team’s journey to the summit was derailed last season, as they slipped to a P3 finish, trailing behind Ferrari and the new champions, McLaren. This was a stark contrast to the team’s dominant start to the F1 2024 season, where a series of balance issues with their RB20 saw them go without a win for ten races. However, the team regained some momentum with Verstappen clinching two of the last four grand prix.
In his conversation with the Daily Mail, Mansell, the 1992 World Champion, expressed his hopes for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, yet was quick to acknowledge Red Bull’s progress. “The thrilling prospect about F1 in 2025 is that Max won’t step back with Red Bull. I’ve been informed that Red Bull has done some commendable work on the car over the winter season,” he said.
Mansell also hinted at the potential threats from other teams. He praised McLaren’s performance last year and suggested that an early consolidation could put drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the championship race. He also highlighted Mercedes, with George Russell on board, and stressed that team principal Toto Wolff is not one to be taken lightly.
The positive sentiment about Red Bull’s winter progress was reiterated by team boss Christian Horner. Yet, he acknowledged the true test would come when the RB21 hits the track. “The team has put in a tremendous amount of work over the winter to rectify some of the shortcomings of the RB20. We’re eager to see if we’ve managed to take it a step further in the early races,” he said during the F1 75 launch event in London.
As the countdown to the F1 2025 season begins, the excitement builds. With four formidable teams vying for the title, it promises to be a thrilling ride.