In the anticipation of Red Bull's unveiling of its 2024 Formula 1 car, the team is grappling with uncertainty over its decision to adhere to a 'third evolution' approach.
Scheduled for a grand reveal at the team's Milton Keynes-based factory next week, the move follows Red Bull's dominant performance in the 2023 season.
However, chief technical officer Adrian Newey is exercising caution, recognising that sticking to a familiar design concept may not be sufficient to maintain the team's leading position.
Despite Red Bull's benchmark status, there is a contemplative acknowledgment that simply refining the existing formula might not guarantee prolonged success.
In a recent discussion on the team's Talking Bulls podcast, Newey shed light on the expectations surrounding the upcoming RB20.
"Our car, it's very much a third evolution of the 22 car," he said,
"Last year's car was an evolution of '22 in its main points being of course, the normal winter development in terms of aerodynamics, some understanding on what we needed to do with suspension to try to improve the car as well, and getting weight out of it, because we never got down to the weight limit in '22.
"This year's car is the third evolution of that original RB18. What we don't know, of course, is the third evolution too conservative, while others have done something different? You just don't know."