Horner: 'We cannot underestimate the size of the challenge ahead of us'

Published on 23 March 2021 by Julien Lemmen

The record-breaking 2021 season kicks off in Bahrain on 28 March, the first of 23 races scheduled for the season. After a solid three-day test with the RB16B there is enthusiasm and excitement at Red Bull Racing ahead of the season opener.

Team principal Christian Horner looks forward to the upcoming season in his own column at the official website of Red Bull Racing: “There is no denying that after the smooth running of the three-day test in Bahrain, there seems to be an excitement out there that we can end Mercedes' seven-year dominance of F1. But we had a debrief within the team after the test and it is fair to say we are a little more cautious on the subject and we cannot underestimate the size of the challenge ahead of us on many fronts."

Horner continues: “We know that Mercedes have not won by mistake for the past seven years; they are a quality, class team that will be motivated to come back strong. We saw it a couple of years ago where there was a similar story during pre-season testing and then they smashed it out of the park at the first race in Melbourne. So, you cannot take anything for granted. And at this stage it is good that we have a solid basis from which to develop the car, rather than fixing an inherent problem. Of course, Mercedes are trying to move the spotlight away from themselves, which is all part of the game, but the reality is they are the reigning seven-time world champions and it is down to us to close that gap and put up a fight. They had one of their strongest seasons last year and this year's car is an evolution of that, so let’s see what we all have in Bahrain and the rest will follow."

“This year there are many carry over parts, which mean the cars are an evolution of last year's. However, one area that is seeing a big development is fuel, and our partner ExxonMobil has been working incredibly hard with Honda to produce a new fuel for this season. Fuel suppliers have an understated role in F1 but they are crucial to the performance and the development of these complex hybrid power units. ExxonMobil has a great relationship with Honda and hopefully we will see the benefits of that collaboration this season, and future seasons, as we adapt to use an increased percentage of biofuel in our cars."

 “As for the chassis, there are some changes for 2021 so Adrian Newey and the Team are splitting their time across both cars, the RB16B and the RB18, which is new for 2022. So it is very much a juggling act and, because the 2022 rules are effectively a blank sheet of paper – there is no carry over and we have limited resources that we can apply to it due to the new cost cap, so it is a bit of a balancing game."

“The big news over the winter was the formation of Red Bull Powertrains Ltd, which is a hugely important addition to Red Bull’s Formula One portfolio. By becoming a power unit manufacturer, initially with Honda technology, Red Bull will be bringing that operation to our campus, so it will be fully integrated into the site and the building work starts in April. We are under no illusions about the enormity of this new venture, but we are ready for the challenge and will apply the same dedication that we have on the chassis side.”

“Of course, the other big news over the winter was the arrival of Sergio to the Team. He has settled in quickly and while he is experienced, he is also a laid-back character. He knows what he wants and has 10 seasons of F1 under his belt. As for Max, he is in good shape and looking really sharp. He hit all his fitness targets at the pre-season training camp in Red Bull's facility in Austria and is readier than ever for the start of the season", Horner concludes.