In 2023, Red Bull and Max Verstappen set new records in Formula 1 history. Out of the 22 rounds, Red Bull won 21, with Verstappen claiming 19 victories to clinch both the constructors’ and drivers’ titles once again. Both were record-setting results.

The second year of F1 with the new 2022 regulation cars resulted in a crowded field, but Red Bull stood out. Building upon its advantages from the previous year, Red Bull rose to a completely different level. Verstappen drove like a champion, keeping the competition at bay with his overwhelming speed and ever-improving race strategies throughout the season.

The RB19 built upon the RB18 concept with high potential. In the early stages of the season, the RB19 was so close to its predecessor as improvements were hard to find. The only way to recognize updates was through its updated aero parts throughout the season. The side pontoons were redesigned twice during the season, and this bodywork further improved the aerodynamic efficiency. The characteristic pull-rod front and push-rod rear suspension configuration was the same as the RB18. Despite the highly complex configuration, Red Bull seemed to have prioritized aerodynamic benefits gained by lowering the center of gravity over simplification.

The biggest improvement of the RB19 was weight reduction. As the RB18 was overweight, Red Bull made weight reduction a top priority in its development. This reduced the RB19’s weight to below the minimum allowed. This was seen as the biggest factor in its improved performance.

In contrast, the RB19’s aerodynamic advantage to effectively generate high downforce at low vehicle height made it a poor choice for tracks with bumpy surfaces that required a higher vehicle height, or tracks with long straights that generated high downforce. On high downforce tracks, such as Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, the skid plates under the car would wear so badly that the car’s height had to be raised pre-race to avoid violating regulations post-race. This was even more pronounced on bumpy courses, where cars could not generate the necessary downforce. In fact, the only race Red Bull failed to win was Singapore, held on a bumpy road course.

As for the power unit, development that aimed at increasing power had been frozen, allowing only modifications that increased reliability. HRC, which continued to supply the power units, completed the 2023 model aiming to further improve reliability, and therefore further increasing its existing potential. The engine’s name was changed to Honda RBPTH 001, bringing the Honda name back to F1.

In Mayr, Honda also announced that it would resume its F1 activities as a power unit supplier from 2026. The new partner was Aston Martin, and the joint venture with Red Bull, which had already publicly announced its joint development with Ford, would end in 2025.

Sergio Perez claimed two pole positions and finished within the points 19 times, contributing to Red Bull taking the top two drivers’ positions. The team amassed 860 constructors’ points, overwhelming the closest challenger, Mercedes’ 409 points. Red Bull more than doubled the points of the second place manufacturer to claim the title.