Three-time world champion Max Verstappen is not expecting the level of dominance that he and Red Bull had in 2023 to repeat itself, saying that his rivals are likely to get closer.
Heading into 2024, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin will all be hoping that they can become regular challengers for race victories, and may even be hopeful of challenging Red Bull for the constructors' championship.
Max Verstappen cruised to a third successive world championship in 2023Max Verstappen claimed 19 race wins in 2023, including 10 in a rowCarlos Sainz was the only man to beat Red Bull in a main race in 2023
Red Bull rivals' path to success
Verstappen himself is wary of this fact, suggesting that his team will need a good start to keep them all behind the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
"The rivals are not stupid, in fact they are everyone learning," he told the Chequered Flag podcast.
"If the regulation remains stable for a long time, the grid will get closer and closer to us.
"Everyone will understand what the right path to success is. We got off to a good start straight away in 2023, but I expect the others to come close in terms of performance in 2024."