Since the introduction of the new technical regulations in 2022, Red Bull has been the team to beat, securing their fifth constructors' title last year. Their success has carried over into the current season, with the team winning the first twelve races. However, despite their unbeaten streak, Horner revealed that the team will now prioritize their efforts towards the 2024 car.
In an interview with Sky Sports after the Belgian Grand Prix, Horner was asked about any upcoming upgrades for the RB19. He responded, "I think that's pretty much it. There will be some circuit-specific bits and pieces, but we've got six months to come up with another one, and with a lot less wind tunnel time than our opponents. That's where we've got to be really selective in how we use our resources."
The reduced wind tunnel testing time is a result of Red Bull's status as reigning champions and their penalty for breaching the 2021 cost cap limit. The team is also under Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) restrictions throughout the year. Despite these limitations, Horner remains confident in the team's ability to balance their focus between this year's car and next year's car.
"The reduced tunnel time kicked in from last October. So, we've had to be hugely selective in how we use that time," Horner explained. "Of course, trying to balance things between this year's car and next year's car. That's when the team... and all [the] credit to everybody back in Milton Keynes. This result is their result, the way they are applying themselves to the challenge at hand. It's incredible the history we are making."
Bahrain ➡️ Belgium ✅ It's been a history-making start to 2023 💪
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 30, 2023
Let's make more history after the summer break 🤘 pic.twitter.com/ZXyj9mbxqa
Red Bull's dominance is evident in their impressive record of 29 wins over the last season and a half. Horner expressed his amazement at breaking McLaren's 35-year-old record for the most wins at the beginning of a season, with their victory at Spa marking their 12th consecutive win.
"We've won 20 of the last 21, and it's an incredible achievement," Horner acknowledged. "I know it might not be popular with the fans because it's predictable. But we are just focused on trying to extract the best that we can, and it's a very special moment for this team because it's historic. 1988 was the last time that anything like this was achieved, and to think that we have been the team to break that is something we could have only dreamt about."
As Red Bull looks ahead to the remainder of the season, their main challenge will be maintaining their dominance while managing their limited resources. With their sights set on the 2024 car, the team will need to carefully allocate their time and energy to ensure they remain competitive in both the current season and the future.
While some fans may find Red Bull's dominance predictable, the team's focus on extracting the best performance from their car is a testament to their commitment to excellence. As they continue to make history, Red Bull is determined to solidify their place as one of the most successful teams in Formula 1.
