The fact that everyone is starting from scratch this year – Kinetic Energy Recovery System, slick tires and new aerodynamics – combined with Newey's extensive experience in building race-winning cars (for McLaren or Williams) are two major reasons for hope. Should the different approach on the new RB5 translate into improved lap times, it will only rest in the hands of drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel to bring home the results.
“With such a big regulation change, it is quite interesting the different approaches that the teams have taken. Strategically, we decided to take a little bit more time in the tunnel and always focused on launching today. Adrian and his team have done a stunning job, the car looks excellent and hopefully that will translate into lap time,” said Horner to a group of reporters during the launch of the RB5.
“His (Newey's) interpretation of the regulations has been slightly different to the other teams. The car looks fantastic, but the bottom line is how it runs on the track. We've got a good basis. He will never be totally happy, but I know that he's reasonably happy with the way that things have gone during the last six months. Time will tell.”
Horner also gave a clear answer to why the construction of the new car took so long as compared to the other teams. Newey had to start the entire project from scratch, so the work took longer than expected.
“With Red Bull Racing we have built something very much from scratch so the process has inevitably been longer but I think that we now have the core ingredients and hopefully in RB5 we will start to realize that potential,” added the British manager.
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