Christian Klien discusses Red Bull’s chances in 2025

Christian Klien spoke during a podcast posted on The Business of Winning on February 13, 2025: among other topics, he shared his opinion on Red Bull’s chances in Formula 1, based on his own experience with the team. Between the challenges posed by McLaren’s performance and the arrival of a rookie alongside Verstappen, what hurdles must be addressed for this new season?

Formula 1 driver at Jaguar Racing during the transition to Red Bull Racing, Christian Klien has remained very close to the Austrian team. In recent years, he has witnessed the various changes within Red Bull.

Competition

For Christian Klien, the impact of Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari is already visible. Even before the start of the Grand Prix, photographs of his arrival at the headquarters and images of his first drive in a Ferrari have made their mark. The seven-time world champion joining this legendary team represents a motivational boost for everyone, which could clearly make the difference throughout the season. Furthermore, Christian Klien explains that Lewis Hamilton knows how to win on a championship scale, and his long-term vision allows him to figure out the best way to earn points for the team throughout the season. His perception goes far beyond the Grand Prix.

In 2025, there are only 2 teams that retain the same two drivers as last year: they are Aston Martin and McLaren. While Aston Martin will not be a direct competitor for Red Bull for now, it’s a different story for McLaren. Christian Klien is particularly eager to see Oscar this year, with the experience gained in 2024. He can probably also pose a threat to Lando, because I think Piastri is a very stable, very calm person.

Current economic situation

We must not forget that 2025 marks the end of a regulatory cycle: the teams are getting closer and closer to each other, and it is increasingly impressive for the public. The gap has narrowed year after year, but the cards will be reshuffled in 2026. So, we should see the upcoming season as the pinnacle of an era to be enjoyed. Who knows which engineering advancement will prevail in 2026? And which team will develop it?

Red Bull and Liam Lawson

On the replacement of Sergio Perez by Liam Lawson, Christian Klien thinks a change was inevitable. Perez’s performances have been lacking for a year and a half, so they had to change something. It will obviously be difficult for Liam Lawson to compare to Max Verstappen, but Christian Klien thinks he has the talent and is also strong mentally. He will have to prove that he is a good number two before he can aim higher. Red Bull’s way of helping him in this role will be crucial: for example, they must avoid putting too much pressure on Liam Lawson’s shoulders. A mistake Red Bull has already made (several times) before, for instance with Albon. Christian Klien believes they have learned from these unfortunate experiences and understood that they don’t need a second Verstappen, rather a good second driver, because that’s probably all they’re missing to return to the race for the constructors’ championship title.

A new chapter in F1?

The arrival of so many very young drivers in Formula 1 proves, according to Christian Klien, that a different era is beginning. And he likes this change: the combination is great, having great champions who are still racing, like Fernando and Lewis […], but we also need fresh blood in F1. So far, it has been difficult for newcomers to prove their worth, so it is very encouraging for the future to see so many young drivers coming in.

In conclusion…

Finally, Christian recalls that Red Bull’s purchase of the Jaguar F1 team initially left many people doubtful: however, a few years later, it must be acknowledged that it was a decision that led them to the top. The achievement is not unfamiliar to Red Bull Racing, so hope endures for them despite the progress of other teams like Ferrari and McLaren.