Red Bull completely dominates the 2023 Formula 1 season, emerging victorious in all races except the Singapore GP, won by Carlos Sainz of Ferrari. Their RB19 car was undoubtedly the best on the field.
However, the 2024 season proved that Red Bull was not resting on its laurels. While their competitors struggled to imitate the design of their car, Red Bull took a radical approach and surprised the F1 paddock with their innovative sidepod design, featuring vertical intakes and an impressive undercut.
The surprise was not limited to Red Bull’s rivals; their partners at Honda were also surprised when asked to make changes to the power unit for the RB20 design. The President of Honda Racing Corporation, in an interview with Motorsport.com, shed some light on their collaboration with Red Bull during the development of the RB20.
He expressed his surprise, saying: “We were very surprised to see the extent of the changes made to the RB20. Despite winning 21 out of 22 races together last year, Red Bull still decided to change the concept. It’s truly amazing! They made numerous requests to adapt our engine to the new concept, and we were surprised when we saw the RB20 in person.”
Although the changes involved revising mounting points and relocating radiators, among other modifications, Honda focused on improving the reliability of their power unit. Unlike performance improvements, reliability enhancements are allowed under current engine freeze regulations.
The President emphasized: “Although we cannot increase the power due to the engine freeze, we can adapt the engine to fit the new car. Additionally, we can work on improving the engine’s reliability. That’s what we focused on during the last winter. This allowed Red Bull more flexibility in their design and aerodynamic concept, enabling them to change the position of oil coolers, radiators, and much more.
He further explained: “Last year, we faced some risks of damaging the power unit, although this did not turn into significant issues in the end. However, we always aim to minimize any risks. That’s why we did our best to further enhance the engine’s reliability for this year.”
Looking ahead, Honda will partner with Aston Martin in 2026, and Watanabe recently stated that they are aiming for a title challenge with the advent of the new regulations.
