Red Bull provide update on next F1 car: ‘everybody will be nervous’

Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan believes "everybody will be nervous" at the team before the first test of its 2025 F1 car.

The 57-year-old has confirmed "all the plans are in place" for the reigning constructors' champions. However, he was also keen to point out that any gains over the winter will be dependant on its F1 rivals.

Red Bull looks set to miss out on the constructors' title this term. With three-rounds to run, the Milton Keynes squad trails Ferrari by 13 points and McLaren by 49.

Having won the two previous crowns, it represents considerable regression for the team. Simultaneously, the Scuderia and Woking outfit have made substantial ground in the development race, leaving Red Bull with the third-quickest package in F1.

When asked if the team had a clear direction on what changes it would make for next year's car, Monaghan highlighted the difficulties associated with the coming winter break, including working within the confines of the final season of a regulations cycle.

"It's funny, isn't it, I can turn around to you and say 'yes', but I guarantee everybody will be nervous before the first test next year," he told media including RacingNews365.

"It's not as if we didn't know, even at mid-season, what we want to try and achieve with next year's car - and next year's car is compounded by the difficulties of the 2026 car.

"So yes, we know what we want to do. At the moment, all the plans are in place, but it almost doesn't matter. It's what we do relative to our opposition."

Championship-winning aspirations in 2025

Despite the loss of form and the likely loss of its constructors' championship-winning run, Monaghan insists Red Bull wants to fight for both titles in 2025.

However, he conceded that whilst Max Verstappen appears set to go four-for-four in the drivers' championship this term, next year poses a considerable challenge for the team.

"We know how much work we want to take on, what we want to try and achieve, and then we'll see how much development work we need to put into it," Monaghan added.

"We want to challenge for next year's championships, so it's going to be quite a challenge on everybody within the skills of Red Bull Racing to achieve all our aims, but we'll try."