Red Bull prefers chassis over power unit: Why that's perfectly understandable
Photo: Race Pictures
15:01, 22 Apr
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Ludo van Denderen is a motorsport journalist at GPblog, specializing in Formula 1 and international racing series. With decades of experience in sports journalism and a long-standing presence in the paddock, he delivers reliable analysis, exclusive interviews, and in-depth coverage of the global motorsport world.
It would be very logical and sensible if Red Bull Racing were to improve the chassis first before implementing any potential update to the power unit. GPblog explains why.
In the coming week, it will become clear whether the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) system will indeed be brought forward by one race, as this website reported on Tuesday. The next question is which teams are more than two percent behind the Mercedes power unit and have permission to add performance to its engine.
If Red Bull and Ford get that opportunity, which is uncertain, the partnership would seriously consider not implementing an update, GPblog understands. They would prefer to focus entirely on improving the chassis first. That may sound odd, but for several reasons it is anything but.
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Why Red Bull and Ford are making the right decision
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Of course, the same people do not work on the power units as on the chassis. But without a fundamental improvement to the latter, any update to the power unit adds little value.
Moreover, drivers do not have unlimited access to engines. If an updated power unit is added to the pool now, it becomes more difficult to potentially do so again later in the season without incurring grid penalties.
Red Bull Ford can also use the time to build an even better power unit than the one that may soon be allowed to be introduced. With an optimized chassis and a further improved engine (without grid penalties), Red Bull Racing drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar could potentially make a bigger step forward.
Finally, the costs of a new power unit play a role. Like Formula 1 teams, engine manufacturers operate under a budget cap. That makes it impossible to invest in power units without limits. Choices therefore have to be made.
All in all, Red Bull Racing may actually benefit from waiting a bit longer with the new engine, if the Austrians were to receive permission for it in the first place.
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