Max Verstappen says he trusts Red Bull can give him another title-winning car this year despite Adrian Newey's absence.
For just the third time in their history, Red Bull Racing head into a new Formula 1 season without a car designed by Newey.
The 66-year-old was the architect behind every one of their title-winning racing machines but quit last year at the height of the controversy that centred around boss Christian Horner.
Red Bull's 2025 car is the first since their 2006 effort to not have Newey's fingerprints on its design.
But Verstappen insists he has full confidence in their new-look technical team, spearheaded by Newey's former deputy Pierre Wache, to deliver in his absence.
"I don't think we should think about that too much. It is done. He is not there any more," the Dutchman said of his former colleague.
"That's how it is. It's how it's been last year and I trust also the people who are there at the moment, we have to do it all together."
Aston Martin announced last September that they had secured Newey's signature.
Billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll threw millions at the Brit in the hope he can turn midfield outfit Aston into perennial title contenders, just as he had done with Red Bull.
Despite his disappointment over Newey's exit, Verstappen made it clear he has no hard feelings towards his former colleague, who begins work as Aston's managing technical partner on March 3. Verstappen said:
"I have a lot of respect for what Adrian has done for the team, have a great relationship with Adrian and I am excited for him to start a new project."
Red Bull's new car, the RB21, ran for the first time on Tuesday as part of a short filming day in Bahrain, ahead of the start of pre-season testing.
Their star driver hopes it will be the machine in which he becomes a five-time champion and only the second man in history, after Michael Schumacher, to win as many titles in consecutive seasons.
And the team is desperate to get back to winning ways after being forced to settle for third place in the constructors' standings last year, behind Ferrari and title-winners McLaren.
Verstappen said: "My motivation is there. Last year was not straightforward but we still won the championship. I am very excited to look ahead and hopefully we can improve our car, and that is a motivation in itself."
Verstappen has a new partner this season with Liam Lawson promoted to the main Red Bull team after the decision to axe Sergio Perez in December.
The 23-year-old Kiwi has just 11 F1 starts under his belt and the team has made it clear he is there only to support Verstappen, not to beat him.
Lawson showed he is acutely aware of that as he said: The team's goal is to win the constructors' and obviously they weren't able to do that last year.
So obviously, we're doing the best job we can to make the car as fast as possible, and for me if we're in a position that we're fighting for winning the constructors' then I'm doing my job.
That's really where the team's goal for me and their expectation for me is at, outside of obviously my goals for Formula 1."
