F1 News: Former Team Boss Sends Warning - "2024 Red Bull Even Better"

RB20 could be better than the 2023 season-dominating RB19.

Former Formula 1 team principal Giancarlo Minardi has warned the other teams over Red Bull's 2024 title contender, particularly close rivals like Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren. Stating that the RB20 is better than the outgoing RB19, the news could come as a serious concern for many teams. 

Red Bull won 21 out of the 22 races this season, courtesy of the Adrian Newey-designed RB19 F1 car that helped shatter multiple records. It also helped three-time championship Max Verstappen cross the finish line first on 19 out of the 22 occasions. 

The Milton Keynes outfit secured championships in both years of Formula 1's ground effect era. It was only during the Singapore Grand Prix this season when Ferrari offered a glimmer of hope to shift the balance of power as driver Carlos Sainz won the race. 

However, Verstappen continued to break records after that. Though we did witness McLaren's Oscar Piastri claim the Sprint win in Qatar, the glory was short-lived on Sunday's hot Grand Prix. 

Despite the grid getting closer in the second half of the 2023 season, Minardi believes there are fewer reasons to cheer about as Red Bull's 2024 contender is supposedly better. He also stated that through his analysis of this season, Verstappen wasn't displaying his full potential. 

While everybody expects a tighter grid next season, the former boss thinks otherwise. He told Gazzetta dello Sport:

“Everyone says yes, that they will be.

“But I would wait a while to say it.

“They have an advantage that I think is difficult to fill at the moment.

“Because by carefully analysing the 2023 races I got the idea that Verstappen never allowed us to see the maximum of his possibilities. And this doesn’t give us much hope.

“And then I get news from England that their 2024 car is even better.”

Terming Ferrari's season as a "season of growth," Minardi said ground realities are often different from results. He added:

“Sitting in an armchair you watch the race, you compare the times, you can make some considerations, but then to know how a team really works you have to live inside it, and sometimes that’s not even enough.

“So there is no need to give judgments or even advice.

“Everyone expected a certain level, especially after a promising start, a level which the red team only reached at the end. So it was a season of growth.”

A Glimpse of 2024

Minardi also said that McLaren's revival in the second half through its B-spec MCL60 F1 car offered a glimpse into 2024. He concluded:

“In its second part I believe it made us experience something of 2024, because with the stability of the regulations we will start again from a situation in which in qualifying all 15 cars in Q2 were within a second. 

“A nice sign of competitiveness and balance. In which it is quite easy to go from being good to being much less so.

“After that, Ferrari and McLaren improved their long runs as the championship went on, so let’s hope for the best and have fun.”