In the traditional column, the head of Red Bull Racing Christian Horner spoke about the starting championship and the new season of the documentary series about the formula 1 DRIVE TO SURVIVE.
Christian Horner: "It is impossible to deny that after three-day tests in the Bahrain, who passed without problems, we feel excitement due to the fact that we can put an end to the seven-year dominance of Mercedes in Formula 1.
However, after summing up the tests of tests, the team has become more careful in forecasts - we cannot underestimate the scale of the task facing us in all directions. We know that in the previous seven years, Mercedes won not thanks to the mistakes of others. They won, because they have a high-class team, which is motivated to return to the track even stronger.
A few years ago, we have already seen a similar story when they didn't work out on the pre-season tests, but in the first race in Melbourne they broke all rivals. Thus, nothing can be taken as proper.
We focused on our own tasks. At this stage it's great that we have a good base to further upgrade the machine. So better than a car that requires solving problems.
Of course, Mercedes are trying to take attention from themselves - this is also part of the game. The reality is such that they are seven-time world champions, and our task is to reduce the lag from them and impose a struggle. Last year, they spent one of their most powerful seasons, and the new car was the evolution of last year. Let's see what the alignment of forces in Bahrain will be.
This season, we use many last year's solutions and details, and therefore new cars - the evolutionary development of last year's. One of the areas in which the greatest development is observed - fuel.
Our partners from Exxonmobil hardly worked to develop new fuel for this season along with Honda. Fuel suppliers play an invisible role in Formula 1, but their work is critical to increasing the capacity and effectiveness of modern complex power plants. The importance of fuel increases even more when a decision is made to "freeze" the modernization of engines.
I hope that thanks to the excellent relationship Exxonmobil with Honda, we will benefit not only this season, but also in subsequent years as the percentage of biofuels used.
As for the chassis, some changes occurred in the 2021th, so Adrian Newey, together with his team, works in parallel over two projects: RB16B and RB18 - a new machine for 2022. To a large extent, we have to look for compromises, since the rules of 2022 are actually written with a clean sheet, and we will not be able to use old details. In addition, budget constraints must be taken into account. As a result, we are constantly looking for a balance in working on two machines.
Of course, the main news of the last winter was the transition to the team Sergio Perez. He quickly mastered, he has a lot of experience and a relaxed character. He knows what he wants, because he has ten years experience in the formula 1.
As for Max, he is in good shape and purposeful. In the offseason, he achieved goals as part of his physical training in the Red Bull training camp in Austria, and more than ever is ready for the beginning of the season.
Another serious news of the past winter is the creation of Red Bull PowerTrains Ltd., which will complement our portfolio in Formula 1. This is a bold solution. Probably, this is the greatest commitment that has taken Red Bull in Formula 1 since the creation of the team in 2004.
We will be a manufacturer of power plants using Honda technologies. Production will be integrated into the database of the team, and the construction of new buildings will begin in April. We do not feed the illusions about the scale of the new enterprise, but are ready to accept the challenge and attach the same efforts that we apply to the creation of the chassis.
We are delighted with cooperation with Honda, but at the end of the season go out of sports, we made a decision and now proceed to work.
I am sure that you have seen trailers, but maybe already looked at the netflix for the third season DRIVE TO SURVIVE. I was recently asked if I wrinkled whether I watched episodes, and an honest answer - yes, constantly!
This television show shows the other side of our sport, which usually does not fall into broadcasts along the weekend. Some heroes are presented in a certain way in order to interest the audience, but, in general, the release of such a series with great popularity has a very positive effect on Formula 1.
In the third season, the season of 2020 is told, in which there was a lot of tests, and you think: "As we managed to do so much for such a short period of time!" This series attracts a new audience, which is great for formula 1.
My 14-year-old daughter and her friends were not particularly interested in formula 1 before the release of the series, but now they know who such races! "
Source: Formula 1 on F1news.ru