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Red Bull has obtained 'missing ingredient' needed for title fight

Published on 09 Mar 2019 15:38
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By: Fergal Walsh

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes that Red Bull now has the "missing ingredient" it needed for a title challenge in engine supplier Honda.

Red Bull dropped previous partner Renault at the end of the 2018 season, following five years of not being able to challenge consistently at the front. The energy drink squad signed with Honda, who spent last year with Toro Rosso, Red Bull's sister team.

Honda had its most successful pre-season test to date this year since it returned as an engine manufacturer in 2015, and while question marks still linger over the pace of the power unit, Horner believes that Red Bull now has a strong base to work on a title charge.

“I think the most important thing is to work as a team,” said Horner. "We’ve achieved more than 50 Grand Prix victories and eight World Championships working as one team.

“The ingredient we’ve had missing the last five years has been the power unit. We believe in this new relationship with Honda that that missing ingredient is now available to us.

“I think working collectively as a team, as things have started, then the opportunities are massive for the future.

"It is the start of a new era for Red Bull Racing with Honda. Everything we have seen from the power unit so far, it’s reliability, it’s performance, the way it is incorporated into the chassis, is extremely encouraging.

“We have had a positive pre-season and are hopeful and optimistic for the season ahead.”

Red Bull's final two days of testing in Barcelona didn't go to schedule, as Pierre Gasly crashed the RB15 on the penultimate day. As a result, running during the final day was limited to just 29 laps.

Gasly admits that he is not as comfortable as he would like heading to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, and says he needs to work to iron out his problems.

“I need to learn from these mistakes. It wasn’t the best end of the two weeks but I will remember the positives and work on the negatives.

“I think overall, the package, the first feeling with it was great. Obviously, I am not feeling as comfortable as I would like with the car and it is my job to set it how I want with the team around me.”

F1 News Red Bull Racing Honda

Replies (8)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I honestly don't think pace is the problem. It looked fine enough, nothing earthshattering or close to Merc' or Ferrari, about where Renault is methinks. The concern for me is reliability. It looks like they got good data on that front too from testing, and as usual they seemed to be very quick on fixing it, which is nice (and also communicated this, cheers Tanabe!), but my concern is the same as many others: was the reliability really good, or did the cool climate hide some overheating or something? Im getting really jumpy now that only one week remain. By the NSX, just let the season get started!
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- Mar 9 2019 - 16:33
- Ram Samartha
  
  Posts: 1,172
  Bring on the racing!
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  Mar 9 2019 - 20:05
kngrthr

Posts: 203
i think the three engine limitation will be their biggest problem
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- Mar 10 2019 - 07:23
cricho

Posts: 80
I agree. Big question on HONDA is reliability. Personaly i think marko is bluffing. They dont have a top 3 car. RBRs top team directives suck. Yes marko and horner, you suck! They are destroying the great team they built with their premadonna attitude. Renault teams seems to be ahead of them. They work with humility and are Always truthfull with the media in regards to their current evolution. True underdogs RENAULT and Mclaren. All my energy is with them. Only good thing on RBR is Newey....
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- Mar 10 2019 - 14:34
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Mm, I don't like Marko or Horner, but don't put truthful and Renault in the same sentence, as long as Abiteboul is in the team. That fella is just as bad as the RB heads, to the point where I legit think they spend time playing golf or whatever. Also, I disagree that only Newey is what's good on RBR. If that was the case, the team wouldn't work ever. Let's not demerit the people on the floor. RB is in many regards a great team, just the heads that are a bit toss.
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  Mar 10 2019 - 16:01
Pistonhead

Posts: 556
Horner in particular hasn't impressed in his handling of Renault situation and starting from the bottom in terms of likeability, he will come out as a winner this year. I wish RBR every success and I really want to see them mix it with the two. Seems to me they will manage to retain the 'third team' mantle, maybe even push for second this year.
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- Mar 10 2019 - 16:42
Major Tom

Posts: 152
I fear for Gasly - i'm not sure that he is a good as many think. If that is at all true Verstaffen is going to give him a hell of a time.
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- Mar 10 2019 - 22:46
Major Tom

Posts: 152
Amen to that!
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- Mar 10 2019 - 22:48