The demise of Sergio Perez not only brought about potentially a premature end to his career in Formula 1 last season but also the dominance that Red Bull enjoyed. Max Verstappen still led the way in the drivers’ championship, as the Dutchman delivered his fourth straight title.
Red Bull could single-handily rely on Verstappen leading their efforts in 2023 as the 27-year-old’s 575 points thanks to 19 Grand Prix and four F1 Sprint wins would have still brought the constructors’ title home. But they needed Perez to score more than 152 to retain it in 2024.
Verstappen’s 437 points, thanks to nine Grand Prix and three Sprint wins, would have placed Red Bull fourth in the 2024 constructors’ championship.
They instead took third, as McLaren lifted their first constructors’ title since 1998 with 666 points ahead of Ferrari with their 652.
Mercedes came fourth in the 2024 constructors’ championship with 468 points, cut adrift of the top three but miles clear of Aston Martin in fifth with only 94.
So, Horner feels the Silver Arrows now go into 2025 with a point to make, having also seen Lewis Hamilton join Ferrari.
The Brackley bunch enjoyed some progress last year compared to their previous struggles in F1’s ground-effect era since 2022.
But despite Hamilton winning a record ninth British Grand Prix plus in Belgium and George Russell in Austria plus Las Vegas, consistent results lacked.
Even Mercedes did not understand why they were quick as Russell won the Las Vegas Grand Prix in a one-two. Also, Russell admitted Mercedes did not understand why they struggled in the hotter conditions last season. So, Horner questions what Mercedes can produce in 2025.
“I think the season will be very competitive,” Horner said, via Speedweek. “We will see four teams that are very competitive.
McLaren will be very strong. Ferrari will also be strong and Mercedes also have a lot to prove. So, it could be a fantastic year.”
Italian wonderkid Andrea Kimi Antonelli will debut in Formula 1 at Mercedes in 2025 next to Russell.
The Brackley crew will hope the Bologna boy and King’s Lynn native lead the £3.1bn valued Mercedes team to a stronger season than in 2024 despite their four Grand Prix wins.
Their tally would have had three wins if not for Verstappen crashing with Lando Norris in the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix and gifting the top step of the podium to Russell on a silver platter.
The Briton also had sixth in the drivers’ standings with 245 points ahead of Hamilton on 223.
Only Perez scored fewer points than the Mercedes pair in 2024 among the top four teams.
It was a fatal flaw for the Mexican and resulted in Red Bull dropping Perez and promoting Liam Lawson to partner Verstappen in 2025. Both McLaren and Ferrari stars outscored the Mercs.
