Jean Todt urges Red Bull to take lessons from Ferrari’s 2005 downfall

Jean Todt reminded Red Bull of Ferrari's 2005 performance slump after a historic run in F1.

Jean Todt urges Red Bull to take lessons from Ferrari’s 2005 downfall

Jean Todt [L] Max Verstappen [R] (images via IMAGO)

Red Bull Racing has dominated Formula 1 in the past two seasons. The Austrian team seemed unstoppable in 2023 with Max Verstappen‘s incredible performances. Many expect that the Milton Keynes-based team will continue their successful run in the coming years. However, former Ferrari Team Principal and FIA President Jean Todt has warned Red Bull about such a possibility.

The Frenchman was asked if Verstappen and Red Bull reminded him of his time with Michael Schumacher at the Scuderia. Todt admitted that the two eras had similarities. The former FIA President praised the Dutchman and the team. However, the 77-year-old highlighted that even Schumacher and Ferrari dropped down the order in 2005 despite having a dominant run between 2000 and 2004.

Yes, there are affinities. Red Bull has built a winning team with an extraordinary driver, very professional, intelligent in the race. A fantastic talent.
Jean Todt told La Stampa

Jean Todt mentioned that Maranello was the same in 2005 with the seven-time champion behind the wheel. Yet, the Prancing Horse could only win a single race that year, the infamous 2005 US GP at Indianapolis. Subsequently. this could be a warning sign for Red Bull about its prospects in the coming years.

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Don’t you remember 2005? Same team, same drivers after a triumphant season. There is Schumacher, yet we are not competitive.

Could Red Bull suffer from a similar fate in 2024?

Red Bull spearheaded the ground-effect F1 regulations in 2022. This gave Milton Keynes a substantial advantage compared to its rivals which led to its historic run in 2023. Max Verstappen took a record-breaking nineteen victories this year and established himself as one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history.

Dr. Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen and Christian Horner in the Red Bull garage (image via IMAGO)
Dr. Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen, and Christian Horner in the Red Bull garage (image via IMAGO)

The Dutch driver would be looking to continue this run next season. However, Red Bull could face stiff competition from its rivals next year with McLaren and Ferrari eyeing the Austrian squad. Moreover, Milton Keynes might have already faced a setback as the 2024 RB-20 reportedly failed the FIA-mandated crash test.

Certainly, Red Bull will be working round the clock to get the most out of its 2024 challenger. Milton Keynes remains ambitious about its plans for the coming years. As such, Max Verstappen will likely remain the driver to beat on track next season. However, it remains to be seen how things pan out for the Austrian team.

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