Red Bull Formula 1 boss Christian Horner has revealed that the team’s 2024 car has hit its outlined objectives, but he remains coy when it comes to issuing any predictions.
The Milton-Keynes-based squad has dominated F1 since the return to ground effect machinery, winning 39 of the 44 races over the past two years to sweep every title.
Red Bull sustained the most successful campaign last term in the sport’s history last term as it triumphed in all but one race and broke the record for consecutive victories.
Having opted to bring “little development” beyond last season’s summer break, Horner has confirmed that Red Bull is looking to evolve “all aspects” of the RB19.
Speaking on the eve of the upcoming season, Horner has disclosed that Red Bull is on a positive trajectory with the work that’s been undertaken on its 2024 challenger.
“I think as far as targets can be, yes,” he told Planet F1 when questioned whether it had been meeting the targets initially laid out.
“We don’t have a lot of preseason testing these days, we’ve got a lot to focus on and to get done, but it’s always a busy time of year in the factory in the planning stage for the season ahead.”
Asked if it had encountered any stumbling blocks, Horner said: “There are always challenges along the way but, if you’re not on the limit, you’re not trying hard enough.”
However, Horner has been cautious on such claims and concedes that the success of Red Bull’s winter programme will only be proven once its latest creation hits the track.
“[The sim drivers] are saying it’s evolution, not revolution – it’s a simulator, and still a virtual world,” he explained.
“So, of course, you want a correlation between track and simulator, which has tended to be reasonable over the last couple of years.
“Hopefully, we’re making progress. But the stopwatch never lies and we’ll only see when we get to the track.”
Horner has echoed the Dutchman’s view, admitting that the Austrian outfit has been striving to eradicate the few weaknesses that were embedded in last season’s car.
“Only time will tell, I mean, the RB19 is the most successful car in the history of Formula 1, so [RB20] has got big shoes to fill,” he said regarding continuing its success.
“But there are always things that you’re learning in this business.
“RB19 still had elements that we could improve and the team have been working hard to do that and address that over the winter in the design phase.”
Pressed to pinpoint the time Red Bull has unlocked on its revised car, Horner answered: “I think it’s impossible to quantify.
“Let’s see when we go to the track. It’s all meaningless if somebody has made a leapfrog and you’re three-tenths behind. It’s all subjective at this time of year.
“I’m sure that everybody is focused on trying to beat us this year, and why wouldn’t they be? We can only focus on ourselves, the factory is very busy at the moment as we gear up for a big year with a record number of available events and races.”
