Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Wache, has admitted that their cost cap penalty will have a significant impact on the development of their car for the 2024 Formula One season.
Following a breach of the 2021 cost cap limit, Red Bull faced a £5.5 million fine and a 10 percent reduction in wind tunnel working time for 2023.
The “Accepted Breach Agreement” with the FIA was announced in October of the previous year, but it seems to have had little effect on Red Bull’s progress in 2023.
With Max Verstappen dominating the competition, Red Bull has secured victories in all eight races thus far, while their rivals struggle to keep up.
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While Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Ferrari have shown signs of closing the gap in recent races, Red Bull remains confident that they will face minimal challenges for the remainder of the year.
However, their primary concern lies in the implications for their development plans heading into the 2024 season.
Wache acknowledges that the limited time in the wind tunnel will have a significant impact on their car’s progress.
“The fact that you have time constraints in CFD simulations (virtual wind tunnel), or in the tunnel itself, as we have, reduces possibilities,” Wache explained.
“It’s difficult, and we’re pushing the limits. I think it might even affect the development of the current car, but it will massively affect next year’s car. If this will affect our performance, I still don’t know.”
Nevertheless, Red Bull’s impressive performances in 2023 have granted the team some breathing space to shift their attention to next year’s car.
While their rivals are still striving to bring major upgrades and working tirelessly at their respective factories to close the gap, Red Bull can take a step back.
Christian Horner, the team principal, confirmed that the development work for the 2024 car is already underway at their facility in Milton Keynes.
“There’s a lot going on,” Horner revealed.
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“I mean, we’re building an engine for 2026.
“That’s consuming a lot of focus in the background, and obviously, we’re having to start thinking about next year’s car as well now.
“But you know, the motivation in the factory is just sky high, and you have to remember we came off the back of some very difficult years, and so days like [Spain], they really mean something.”