Both McLaren and Red Bull appear to concur that the energy drink-owned F1 team is unlikely to start the 2025 season as the outright favourite.
Speaking on Servus TV ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko reflected on the significance of Max Verstappen securing his fourth world title in Las Vegas, describing the mood as one of "relief."
"We are all happy that the decision did not have to be made at the finale," he told the Austrian broadcaster.
Although Red Bull began the 2024 season with dominant form, Marko admitted, "something went wrong" along the way.
"We realised too late that we had taken a wrong turn in terms of development," the 81-year-old said. "Later, thank God, we turned things around. But there was turbulence in the team and significant departures. We had to cope with all of that.
"We have found our way again, but not yet to the point where we have a predictable car," he added. "So for 2025 we need a racing car that offers a wider working window. Next year will be even tougher because the current regulations will be in their last year and the field will be very close together.
"If we give Max a halfway decent car, then it will still be his class that makes the difference in the end. We want that fifth title in a row. But then 2026 will be an even bigger challenge because we'll have to deal with completely new regulations and we will be building the engine ourselves for the first time. We've got a lot to do."
Meanwhile, McLaren looks set to triumph over Ferrari in the constructors' standings, with Lando Norris having emerged as the strongest contender against Verstappen until the the drivers' championship was wrapped up.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown revealed to De Telegraaf that the team has ambitious plans for the 2025 car.
"I can reveal that we are going to develop the car considerably," he said. "I am impressed by how brave the team has been with regard to our plans for next year. We are really going to change a lot. In Formula 1, you also have to take risks if you want to be the best. I think you have no choice."
Brown echoed Marko's sentiment, predicting that 2025 will present Red Bull with significant hurdles.
"Red Bull has lost a lot of important people and I don't think we've seen the full consequences of that yet," Brown commented. "It's a good team, but you also have to look at the culture and the atmosphere."
Brown doesn't foresee Red Bull as the leading team for 2025 or 2026.
"For them, 2026 will be an even bigger challenge," he stated. "They will have their own engine for the first time, and I can't remember a team with their own engine being directly competitive in the first year.
"That is a big question mark."
