Red Bull has no major problem to fix

After the first winter tests of the 2014 season in Jerez, Red Bull, the reigning four-time world champion team, could only assess the damage: with a total of 21 laps completed, barely 93 kilometers, the Austrian team couldn’t really benefit from these tests. The blame lay with multiple problems, mostly due to Renault’s own difficulties but also issues inherent to the Red Bull RB10.

Christian Horner, the director of Red Bull, interviewed by Sky, sought to downplay the team’s difficulties and expressed confidence in the French engine manufacturer’s ability to bounce back: « There are a few things we need to strengthen on our side, but nothing major and obviously Renault has had a few problems they are correcting as well. » According to him, a small grain of sand is enough to disrupt the very sophisticated mechanics of the 2014 version single-seaters: « But these cars are so complex that a small problem causes major breakdowns. »

« Obviously, there are quite a few things to do, but there’s some time before the first race, » he added. Beyond the electrical and integration problems known by Renault, Red Bull is facing issues related to the cooling of the hybrid block. The situation reportedly forced Adrian Newey to return urgently to the factory to somewhat revise his design, after makeshift openings were made on the rear of the RB10’s sidepods during the Jerez tests.

The second test session, which will take place from February 19 to 22 in Bahrain, will be an opportunity to ensure that difficulties are eliminated and therefore carries a crucial aspect: « The Bahrain tests next week are an important trial, so everyone is working very hard at Renault and in Milton Keynes. » While Horner hopes for a much better week in the Emirati land, he remains philosophical: « We don’t want to experience another week like in Jerez, but that’s what tests are for: you solve your problems so you don’t have them during the Grand Prix. »