Red Bull Chief Admits Mercedes Could Catch Up: "Chassis More Swift To Develop Than Engine"
The highly anticipated F1 season kicked off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5 and Red Bull Racing did not disappoint. With Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez behind the wheel, the team secured a one-two finish and showed the world why they are considered to be one of the strongest contenders for this year's championship. However, team boss Christian Horner is aware that maintaining this level of performance is no easy feat and that the competition is fierce.
Speaking to the media, Horner couldn't resist making a jab at Aston Martin whilst explaining:
"I think that the operating windows of these cars are very narrow.
"Every team in the top three looks like it's developed its own theme. One team [Aston Martin] has adopted our theme and have made a gain.
"I guess at some point it is going to converge and that can happen during a season."
Horner continued, mentioning the difficulties of the cost cap. The team infamously exceeded the cost cap budget during the 2021 season and so were handed a $7 million fine and a 10% reduction in wind tunnel time for the 2023 season. The Austrian team's principal added, referring to the start of the hybrid era in 2014 which Mercedes dominated:
"I think the budget cap adds challenges, you've just got to be effective and efficient with your spend and your commitment. I think 2014 was different because that was a fundamental difference in the engine. Whereas the chassis is much more swift to develop than an engine."
Both Mercedes and Ferrari did not start off the season as they would have hoped with Charles Leclerc having to retire from the race after encountering an engine issue with the Ferrari SF-23, and both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell struggling to get performance out of the Mercedes W14 cars.