Throughout the entirety of this year’s Formula 1 season, Red Bull Racing has managed to maintain a remarkable edge over their competitors. This has left both the fans, and the opposing teams, wondering how Red Bull have sustained such dominance since the beginning of 2022.
The RB19’s structural design and power is something that the other teams simply fail to replicate.
Photo credit: Red Bull Content Pool
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, shed some light on their success and what the future holds for the team.
When asked if he was surprised that the opposing teams failed to catch up to Red Bull’s advantage this season, Horner noted that the rest of the field has been subject to major changes in performance from race to race.
“I mean the field has been moving around behind us. One week it’s McLaren, next week it’s Ferrari, next week it’s Mercedes.”
In contrast to this diversity in performance, Horner claimed that the team have been “99% consistent / 90% consistent at the front of the field.”
When asked about the team’s continued advantage, he remarked: “I think we’ve been fairly limited in the amount of development that we’ve done on the car. But I think the development that we’ve done has been effective enough to maintain a reasonable margin.”
Red Bull have showcased an impressive level of consistency this season. While their rivals have been subject to fluctuations in car performance, Red Bull have managed to maintain their position at the front of the grid.
When asked how much of the team’s success is attributed to their exceptional performance, and how much is due to their competitors’ mistakes, Horner emphasised the stability of the RB19, and Red Bull’s understanding of the car regulations.
“We have the same gearbox on the car, we have the same chassis, largely as last year,” he explained.
“So, an awful lot of it is carried over from last year, and I think the team have done a great job in efficiently developing the car and reducing the weight.”
He praised the technical team, and the workers behind the scenes, at their factory in Milton Keynes,
“I think the whole technical team, operational team, have done an amazing job to maintain across the variance of circuits that we’ve had this kind of performance.”
Securing their sixth F1 Constructors’ Championship, the team have solidified their status as a powerhouse within the sport.
Regarding the RB19 chassis, Horner acknowledged that while certain elements have changed from last year, the foundation has remained the same.
The burning question remains: Can Red Bull Racing sustain their momentum and continue their dominant run into the next season?Horner offered a candid response to this question, “I think to repeat a season like this is a golden moment for the team.
“To do better than we’re doing is just impossible. So, I think we’re riding a wave, and of course, we want to try and ride that wave as long as we can.”
He also emphasised the changing nature of the sport and not to take anything for granted, even more so following Singapore: “Formula 1 is a fast-moving business.
“You see how quickly teams move up, move down, and Singapore, if nothing else, demonstrates there can be zero complacency, that we have to keep pushing the boundaries.”
The race at Singapore saw Ferrari take first place, breaking Red Bull’s continuous winning pattern from this season. However, at last week’s race in Japan, Verstappen claimed yet another victory, his 13th of the season, reinstating his dominance.
