Horner: 2025 will be a fantastic Formula 1 season

It can be said that after a ten-race spell in which Verstappen won seven of the first ten races, the wheels came off of the Red Bull charge. Only the greatness of their Dutch driver kept the Drivers' title alive. Team boss Christian Horner believes things will be even tighter this year in F1.

He said with an eye on the year ahead: "Everything indicates that 2025 will be a fantastic season. If you look at how high the level of performance is, especially among the four teams that were able to fight at the top, then you can expect a thriller.

"It will also be a very long season, and I am excited to see what progress the teams will make during the winter break," added Horner, referencing 24 race weekends on the calendar this year. The final one of the current F1 rules package.

For next year, it is all change in terms of rules and cars, which Horner discussed: "The fact that a rule revolution is planned for 2026 makes the teams' work more difficult." This is probably the biggest rule change in 50 or 60 years. In that sense, the additional wind tunnel work that we can do as third-placed is an advantage," added the Red Bull F1 boss.

Teams that finish higher up the order have their wind-tunnel time curtailed in an attempt by the F1 cost cap to level the playing field. Thus Red Bull should have more wind-tunnel time than their rivals, 2024 World Champions McLaren and runners-up Ferrari.

Horner explained: "Teams have to constantly weigh up how they want to distribute their resources, and if you are in the fight for the F1 world championship title for a longer period of time, then the further development of the current car also takes longer.

"It's obviously difficult when you have a major rule change ahead of you; I experienced that myself in 2021 and 2022. Because of course the earlier you can start developing, the greater your advantage. But if it's a close battle right up to the last round, then the use of resources is a balancing act that's really tricky," revealed Horner.

The 51-year-old Briton has been Red Bull team principal since they broke cover at the 2005 Australian Grand Prix. making 2025 Horner's 20th season at the helm of one of the most successful F1 teams of this century.