Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has delivered the team a direct instruction on what it must do to support Max Verstappen's pursuit of another F1 drivers' title.
The reigning world champion enters 2025 having battled his way to a fourth consecutive crown last year, whilst dealing with Red Bull-based issues both on, and off the circuit.
Focusing on the troublesome RB20, Marko recognises that the struggles with the car began after the departure of Adrian Newey.
"Let's start with last year, in which it was very close," Marko told Autosprint. "We started well and dominated, but since the departure of Adrian Newey our technicians had some trouble getting the most out of the car.
"That was reflected during the weekend in Imola, for example. But at the end of the season things gradually went in the right direction and we can say that we are very optimistic for the future."
Whilst Red Bull did, eventually, understand the cause of the RB20's problems, a dominant 2025 is not expected for the Milton Keynes-based team.
However, Marko argues that the fight for the title this year will come down to who can extract consistent performance from its package.
"The truth is that from Miami onwards four teams competed for victories," added the Austrian.
"Frankly, McLaren has always been the most consistent and competitive team, regardless of temperatures, weather, tyres and track layout.
"We have to take that into account because the others, including Red Bull, have had ups and downs. Ferrari, on the contrary, performed at an excellent level again at the end of the season.
"Having said that, I think we will see in 2025 which of the top teams is able to make the car perform optimally. We will see."
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Verstappen magic
With the upcoming season expected to be a tight one, Marko does outline a key advantage for Red Bull: Verstappen.
For this reason, Marko has stressed to the team that it must deliver the 27-year-old a car which he will be able to control with ease.
Should Verstappen be delivered what Marko has outlined to the outfit, then the advisor knows the driver will deliver the rest.
"We have to produce a good and controllable car," insisted Marko. "I am not talking about a car that is necessarily much more competitive than the other teams.
"It's not just about whether that's possible. Outside the car, we have a big advantage with by far the best driver in the field: Verstappen.
"We just need to give him a competitive and solid car and then you will see that he will take care of the rest."
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