Red Bull push not sacrificing 2022 car
Red Bull does not believe it is compromising efforts on its 2022 car by continuing to push on with upgrades to its current Formula 1 challenger.
The Milton Keynes-based squad has been much more aggressive with developing its RB16B than title rival Mercedes has with its W12, allowing it to pull clear on outright performance.
Red Bull has worked on all areas of the car, including the wings, diffuser, floor, and bargeboard area in the bid to eke out more performance, leading to its current five-race streak of wins.
But Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner said the team was working well to balance resources and is not sacrificing development of its new car ahead of the overhaul of the regulations. “The team’s doing a great job of balancing the challenges of this year and next year,” he said. “It’s nothing new. I mean there’s a lot being made of it at the moment, but we’ve had big regulation changes in the past, so you just have to balance your resource and apply it to what needs the most. I think the team are working incredibly hard, extremely well and effectively.”
As work continues on Red Bull’s 2022 car, Horner made clear that current head of aerodynamics Dan Fallows would not be released early from his contract to join Aston Martin. Fallows has signed a deal to become
Aston Martin’s new technical director, but only upon the expiration of his Red Bull contract in 2023.
Aston Martin had hoped to talk with Red Bull about securing an early release, but Horner felt the situation was “really clear”. “He’s working on the [2021] car, he is working on next year’s car, and he’s still got a significant amount of time,” Horner said.
“He only signed the contract at the end of last year, so there’s a significant period of time before mid-2023. We’ll obviously keep him busy during the rest of his contract.”