Red Bull has finalized plans for the RB21, as revealed by Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan this week. Despite challenges with the current car, the team has outlined a clear development path for its successor. Moreover, Red Bull is willing to sacrifice additional wind tunnel time if it means retaining the title in 2024. However, the Austrian racing stable currently ranks third in the constructors’ championship.
“All plans for the RB21 are ready,” Monaghan told Motorsport Week. “Yet, everyone will be nervous in the run-up to the first tests in Bahrain. Of course, it all depends on what the competition does.” Last season, Red Bull was forced to revise or postpone various upgrades because the car proved too unpredictable in some areas. Often, the results from the wind tunnel did not match the performance on the track.
‘Titles Weigh Heavier Than Test Time’
The lack of consistency has contributed to the current situation where Red Bull, the reigning world champion, is only third in the constructors’ championship, behind rivals McLaren and Ferrari. Monaghan partly attributes the problems to the limited wind tunnel and CFD time allocated to the team. As the winner of the constructors’ title last season, Red Bull had the least testing opportunities this year.
However, Monaghan does not want to use this as an excuse. “It’s not just about the amount of time, but how efficiently you use that time,” he stated. He complimented teams like Haas and Williams, who had more development opportunities due to their lower ranking, but emphasized that it is up to Red Bull to get the most out of the car despite the limitations. For next season, Monaghan is resolute – he does not want to make concessions to winning titles. “I would rather retain the constructors’ championship than get more time to test,” he concluded.
