Red Bull Racing hopes to continue its good run at the Austrian Grand Prix, which takes place on its own circuit. To do this, it has an engine that allows it to perform optimally at altitude.
Traditionally, Red Bull It has performed very well on the high-altitude circuits, of which there are currently two on the Formula 1 calendar: Red Bull Ring in Austria and the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico.
The first of them hosts this weekend the tenth round of the 2022 championship on a track where Max Verstappen has achieved two poles and four victories in the last six years. In addition to being the home Grand Prix for Red Bull, it is one of the events that receives the most Dutch fans, so the support for the team and the driver is always maximum.
“Honda has created a special turbo, which has a small but decisive altitude advantage”
But is the dominance of Red Bull and Max Verstappen based solely on “playing at home”? “The turbo is special. Engine runs great but Honda has created a special turbo, which has a small but decisive altitude advantage. We have already seen this in recent years,” reveals Helmut Marko.
“I guess at the Red Bull Ring things can be more difficult for Mercedes. They will have to lift the car (to avoid bouncing). Surely there will be no problem to do it, but they will be slower, “he expands when asked about the possible opposition of a Mercedes team that fought for victory at Silverstone.
“The difficult thing is that there are very fast corners and very tight corners. You have to brake twice at more than 300 km/h and find the right setting between mechanical and aerodynamic grip. That is the crucial thing, ”says the Austrian on the circuit.
“But Verstappen has won four times at the Red Bull Ring. and he is also especially motivated. And, above all, there will be the Dutch fans in the stands… It will be electrifying », he anticipates.
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Honda and Porsche
Although Honda officially left Formula 1 at the end of last year, the engines currently used by Red Bull are designed and manufactured by the Japanese brand, which will continue to collaborate with the Austrian team until 2025, when the current regulatory period will arrive. to its end.
“The collaboration with Honda was essential, especially for 2025, to be able to count on this power unit advantage over our rivals”admits Helmut Marko.
In recent weeks, there has been speculation about the possible official return of Honda in 2026, at which time Audi and Porsche will also arrive. However, Christian Horner denies that the Japanese brand has spoken about this possibility.
“We have an engineering society, an agreement with Honda to supply the current engines until the end of the 2025 set of regulationsbut there have certainly been no discussions with us about that.”
“And of course, you know, there are discussions with Porsche that now seek to enter the competition. I think it’s really exciting for Formula 1 that brands like this want to get in,” he says.
“But that is subject to the regulations that are going to be and what will be the treatment of a newcomer, some of those aspects”he concludes.
What Horner is referring to is the new engine regulations for 2026, as well as the development privileges that new drivers will have in relation to existing ones.
Font: motorsport.com
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Photos: Red Bull Content Pool