Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing (motorsport.com)
Christian Horner Emphasizes Continuity in Design Philosophy as Red Bull Prepares for the 2024 F1 Season
As the Formula 1 world eagerly anticipates the unveiling of Red Bull’s RB20 for the 2024 season, the Milton Keynes-based team remains committed to an evolutionary approach, steering clear of any drastic revolutions. Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, emphasized that while improvements are underway, the team aims to build on the strengths of its successful RB19 without reinventing the wheel.
Horner stated, “Evolution not revolution. All areas have been revisited in the car, and we can’t afford to have any complacency. So the car is very much an evolution of a theme. We’re not reinventing the wheel, and that has been very much the route of the engineering path over the last 12 months.”
Despite the RB19’s remarkable success, winning 21 out of 22 grands prix in the previous year, Red Bull acknowledges the challenges ahead. Horner anticipates increased competition as rival teams catch up by incorporating the core design concepts that Red Bull has utilized effectively. As the field converges, Red Bull expects diminishing returns on gains made with the car.
“I’m convinced that you’ll see a lot more cars that perhaps look like an RB19 philosophy. If you stand still in this business, you tend to be going backward,” warned Horner. Red Bull recognizes the importance of continuous development and staying ahead of the curve in the highly competitive F1 landscape.
Despite Red Bull’s early transition to focus on the RB20, Horner acknowledged the team’s challenges, especially with limited wind tunnel time compared to rivals. While the team may not have enjoyed a substantial advantage, Horner expressed confidence in the selective application of their resources to enhance the RB20 based on the proven strengths of its predecessor.
“With the lack of wind tunnel time that we’ve had, even though we transitioned early, we still had less time in practice than a great many of our opponents. So, we’ve had to be very frugal and selective of where we apply that time for RB20, and that will obviously try to build on the strengths of RB19,” explained Horner.
As Red Bull navigates the intricate balance between continuity and innovation, the F1 community eagerly awaits the debut of the RB20 and the team’s strategy for maintaining its competitive edge in the upcoming season.