Horner makes candid Red Bull statement following 2024 failure......

Horner makes candid Red Bull statement following 2024 failure…….read more

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has openly discussed the disappointing results for his team in the 2024 Formula 1 season. Despite Max Verstappen securing his third consecutive drivers’ championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Red Bull failed to claim the constructors’ title, marking a significant departure from their dominance in recent years. This is the first time since 2021 that the team has missed out on the constructors’ trophy, with McLaren emerging as unexpected champions for the first time in 26 years.

To make matters worse, Red Bull’s performance took a further hit as they were overtaken by Ferrari, who secured second place in the standings, condemning Red Bull to third. This marks the first time since 2019 that the team has finished lower than second in the constructors’ championship, a sharp decline from their previous stronghold at the top of the standings.

Several factors contributed to Red Bull’s underperformance in the 2024 season. The team’s decline in pace, compared to their peak in previous seasons, played a significant role in their failure to maintain their usual level of dominance. Additionally, the underwhelming performances of Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, added to the team’s struggles. Perez, who had been an important part of Red Bull’s success in previous seasons, was unable to provide the consistent support expected of him, which also impacted their overall results.

Despite these challenges, Horner remains optimistic about the team’s future. In an interview following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he offered a candid reflection on the team’s struggles but emphasized a key positive outcome from the situation. According to Horner, Red Bull’s lower finish in the 2024 constructors’ standings will provide the team with valuable additional wind tunnel time, which could prove crucial for the development of their car for the 2025 season. Wind tunnel testing is a vital component of a team’s ability to refine and develop their car’s aerodynamic performance, and the additional time will allow Red Bull to make the most of this resource.

Horner acknowledged the disappointment of finishing third but pointed out that the extra wind tunnel time would offer Red Bull a significant advantage moving forward. The 2026 regulation changes are expected to be some of the most significant in the history of the sport, and teams are already starting to focus on developing cars that will meet the new rules. In light of this, the extra wind tunnel time, which Red Bull will have compared to their competitors, could give them a head start in preparing for the 2026 season.

Since the introduction of the sliding wind tunnel scale in 2021, teams have been allotted a certain amount of aerodynamic testing time based on their position in the constructors’ standings. The lower a team finishes, the more wind tunnel time they receive, allowing them to focus on improving their car’s aerodynamics. As a result of their third-place finish in 2024, Red Bull will have 10 percent more wind tunnel time than McLaren between January and June of 2025 and 5 percent more than Ferrari. This additional time could prove to be crucial as the teams begin to focus on developing their cars for the future, with 2026 on the horizon.

Horner stressed the importance of the 2026 regulations, which he described as possibly the biggest change in Formula 1 in the past 50 or 60 years. With such significant changes ahead, teams will need to adapt quickly to stay competitive. Red Bull’s ability to use the extra wind tunnel time to their advantage could help them regain their edge and ensure they are well-prepared for the new era of Formula 1 racing.

While Horner and Red Bull would have preferred a stronger finish to the 2024 season, the team principal remains optimistic about their future prospects. The additional wind tunnel time represents a silver lining for a season that was marked by unexpected challenges, and Red Bull will look to capitalize on this opportunity as they prepare for the exciting changes that lie ahead in Formula 1.