Red Bull’s 2012 car will “surprise” the F1 paddock according to its famous designer Adrian Newey.
Already this week, Ferrari’s chief designer Nikolas Tombazis has revealed that next year’s single seater is “fairly different” to the current 150 Italia and could provoke a “wow factor” when it is launched.
But the same is also true of Newey’s RB8, according to Turun Sanomat newspaper, despite the current Red Bull being an evolution of the 2009 concept.
Blown diffusers aside, the rules are staying essentially the same in 2012 but Newey has “revealed that next year’s RB8 will amaze everyone”, correspondent Heikki Kulta wrote.
“When he was asked what about it is so surprising, he replied that if he revealed that now then it would no longer be a surprise.”
Even team boss Christian Horner apparently knows very little about the 2012 Red Bull.
“So far he (Newey) has only told me that it’s going to be blue,” he joked, according to Die Presse.
Dr Helmut Marko said on the Servus TV channel this week that the 2011 car will feature some new parts in Japan this weekend.
“What we learn can be used for the new car in 2012,” said the team advisor. “We want to come back with a clear lead for the first race of the season.”
But before the full focus turns to 2012, Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel need to mathematically conclude their 2011 title triumphs, and Newey insists there is no celebrating yet.
“We still have not won anything,” the Briton said ahead of Suzuka, where Vettel needs only a single point to secure his second drivers’ title.
Horner however insists the team will not be on ‘cruise and collect’ in Japan.
“We are not looking at the one point but the (maximum) 43,” Kleine Zeitung quotes him saying.
As for the future, Horner insists he can live with the constant sniping about Red Bull’s approach to F1 rules and financial agreements.
“We take it as a compliment,” he said. “We have shown that what we have achieved was no fluke.
“Ferrari and McLaren were sworn enemies for twenty years, yet now they are united against us.”
Source:GMM
