Red Bull's preparations with their new F1 car are "tight but on schedule", according to team boss Christian Horner, as they prepare to launch the RB18 and go testing. Red Bull will show off their new design in an online launch on Wednesday, becoming only the second outfit to do so after Haas, as F1's launch season kicks into gear . With the sport introducing all-new technical regulations, Horner has admitted that Red Bull are up against it in terms of the car build, but still hopes a planned shakedown can take place before the first pre-season test in Barcelona (23-25 February).
Horner gives an update on RB18 preparations
Asked for an update on the RB18's status in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com , Horner said: "We'll probably [still] do a shakedown before we go to the first test; it's tight, but it's on schedule." Horner added that, given the restricted number of test days, the team are braced for a particularly busy pre-season period. "Obviously, with only six days of testing, you want to maximise every day," he commented. "Barcelona will be primarily focused on learning about the RB18, getting long runs in, doing the durability stuff, understanding the characteristics, the vehicle dynamics..." Alluding to the tightening budget cap for the 2022 season, Horner added: "You [also] have to pick carefully now where you want to introduce your updates."
No details to be revealed at Red Bull's car launch
Horner also stated that Red Bull - as well as the team's rivals - will be hiding as many details as they can during their official car launch. "I think all launches are reasonably heavily photoshopped," said Horner, when asked about recent comments from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko that this week's launch will not reveal anything important. "Particularly with a new set of regulations, teams are keen to protect their IP, so of course, you're trying to give away as little as you can. "You'll never see a diffuser or anything like that, and profiles of wings are perhaps slightly different, but that's become the norm in Formula 1 now. "This is more of a curtain-raiser for the season and it'll really be the Bahrain test that you're probably getting close to seeing cars in their race spec. "[The RB18 launch is] primarily focused on delivering the aspirations of the team for the season ahead."
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