In-season upgrades will be 'really difficult' for RP20 - Racing Point

Racing Point has spoken out on its intentions of upgrading its 2020 challenger, the RP20, saying that it believes it will be difficult to further upgrade the car after its substantial upgrade planned for the Australian Grand Prix next week.

The team hopes to start off the season in Melbourne with a major upgrade to the car, while it is believed that another major advancement is planned for sometime later in the year.

Racing Point technical director Andrew Green stated his belief that this would be enough to ensure that the team stays ahead of the midfield as the team looks toward working on the 2021 season changes.

“We’ve got an upgrade coming for Melbourne, which hopefully will be significant going by the numbers – it’s looking pretty good – but beyond that, it’s going to be really difficult,” Green told The Race.

“Transitioning into 2021 has already started, we’re already well into car design and chassis design for 2021. And that 2021 resource [pull] is only growing, it’s not getting any smaller.

“It’s going to become really tough in a few months time to see where the resource can be ut on this car, it’s where we’re going to struggle, being the size of team we are. There’s certain things we have to get on with, otherwise, we’re just not going to be racing next year.”

Green believes other teams will also switch early to 2021

Green also expressed his thoughts on the team's rivals, believing that those teams will look to switch their focus to 2021 early, similar to what Racing Point has planned.

The RP20 received criticism for its striking similarity to the 2019 Mercedes W10 throughout the pre-season tests in Barcelona last month but Green hoped that having such a strong car will allow for a good start into the season and for the results to be produced throughout the season.

“If the team keeps developing from where we are now, there will be another upgrade coming for the middle of the year, but I think that would be it,” Green added.

“I don’t know how different it’s going to be for everyone else, but everyone else has got to do a ‘21 car as well.

“Obviously the three big teams can throw a bit more resource, keep a bit more resource on 2020, but we’re not competing with the top three teams at this rate.

"The group we’re competing with, I suspect, is going to have to do something quite similar [to us].”

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Core strength in the 2019 Mercedes package should be good enough to handover Racing point a 4th, unless McLaren/Renault sustains the development till the end.

    • + 0
    • Mar 6 2020 - 16:39
  • It will no doubt, but if anyone can do it I think RP is the team to do it.

    • + 0
    • Mar 8 2020 - 13:58

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar