F1 director backs Red Bull to lose in 2024

Christian Horner, generic — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 director backs Red Bull to lose in 2024

Rival teams have a lot of catching up to do

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Tuesday 13 February 2024 21:57

Aston Martin's technical director Dan Fallows has insisted that the team's focus for 2024 is beating Red Bull, insisting that the reigning champions are far from infallible.

Red Bull took 21 out of 22 possible victories last season, losing out only in Singapore to the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz - with Max Verstappen claiming 19 of those wins for himself.

Aston Martin, on the other hand, made huge gains in 2023 and found themselves as one of Red Bull's main competitors for race wins and podiums, particularly at the start of the season.

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Although the team are yet to claim a race win since they entered the sport in 2021, in two-time world champion Fernando Alonso they have a driver that can help them to achieve that goal, if their new 2024 car can make yet more gains on their rivals.

Fernando Alonso achieved great success in his first season with Aston Martin

Dan Fallows is Aston Martin's technical director

Aston Martin have recently unveiled their new AM24 car

Red Bull there for the taking?

Horner is currently being investigated by his team for 'inappropriate behaviour', with the hearing potentially set to last until at least the first race of the season in Bahrain.

Speaking at the Silverstone-based team's car launch, Fallows said Aston Martin have their sights firmly set on challenging Red Bull.

“We assume that Red Bull can absolutely be beaten," he bullishly told the audience. "This is what we are looking for. We focus on them and that’s what we’re aiming for.

“The team with the fastest car is our target. From a technical point of view, we need to make a car that can run on any circuit and be competitive.

"We are very happy with the progress made over the winter, we think we have taken a step forward compared to last year's car, which is what we wanted."

Red Bull Max Verstappen Aston Martin Fernando Alonso