Helmut Marko is feeling optimistic about the development of Red Bull's engine for the 2022 F1 season. When Honda made the decision to leave the sport at the end of 2021, the team established their own power units project, Red Bull Powertrains. However, the 2022 engine will continue to use Honda intellectual property. Whilst the new technical regulations being introduced into Formula 1 for the new campaign add an element of uncertainty, Marko thinks that things appear positive in terms of the power unit. "Things are looking very positive," the Red Bull advisor told Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung . "The proportion of synthetic fuel will be increased from five to ten percent this year. That has already required a lot of changes. "But Honda has only given promising feedback. Honda is no longer on the car, but the Japanese are helping us."
Development is key in 2022
Marko is not the only one to express optimism at Red Bull, with Team Principal Christian Horner explaining at the team's recent launch event of the RB18 that motivation is "sky high" off the back of Max Verstappen's title success. However, he also admitted that the approach will be different in 2022 due to the need to focus on development. "You're always improving; you can always learn from previous experience," he said. "But of course, with a complete new set of regulations, it's going to be all about the development, [and] how quickly the teams get on top of this set of new regulations, the biggest regulation change for probably 30 to 40 years in Formula 1. "So development is going to be thick and fast, and of course with the cost cap, it's got to be efficient." The RB18 will first be seen in action when pre-season testing begins in Barcelona on 23-25 February. This will be followed by a second test in Bahrain on 10-12 March, with the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix taking place soon afterwards on 18-20 March.
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