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Red Bull responds to Hamilton: 'This gives us high top speed'
- GPblog.com
Christian Horner, after the Styrian Grand Prix, addressed, among other things, Mercedes' statements that they are no longer making updates to the current car. The 47-year-old Briton also revealed how it is possible that Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have been so fast on the straights lately.
"I think he was about 15 seconds ahead when Lewis went in to set the fastest lap," Horner was referring to the fact that Mercedes were nowhere to be seen Sunday afternoon at the Red Bull Ring. "It was perhaps our strongest and most complete performance so far this year. It's been two great weekends so far, it was a real shame Checo wasn't there too."
Updates to RB16B
In a Red Bull online press moment with various media, the Red Bull team boss is also asked about the development of the RB16B. This is because, in his own words, Mercedes has all but stopped making updates. "What Mercedes does is their business. We focus on ourselves. Toto likes to throw the lights somewhere else. I can't believe they can get through the year without putting a single component on the car. What we can do is focus on our own work", he says.
All the teams in Formula 1 have $145 million to spend this season and that money must also be used to develop the 2022 car. "Of course, it's a balancing act between this year and next year. If that means we all have to work harder, then the team is fully up for it," Horner quipped.
Red Bull's secret is the oil
Mercedes are also impressed with the Red Bull's top speed. They point to the new Honda engine that was introduced in France. Red Bull says that this update only improves reliability, as the FIA regulations state that performance upgrades are not allowed.
Hamilton, however, claims Red Bull have somehow found more engine power. Horner: "We have a new oil from ExxonMobil. So I think they can take all the credit for the fact that Lewis keeps pointing at our engines. The engines are the same specification," he says. The top man also doesn't really understand why Mercedes were changing engines already in Azerbaijan. "That's unusual for them to change so early in the year as they did. They seem to have maybe more degradation this year than previous years. All we can do is focus on our own work."