Blow to Red Bull Racing's closest rivals after Canadian Grand Prix

After the Canadian Grand Prix, the next allocation of wind tunnel and CFD time F1 teams can spend has been set in stone. Red Bull Racing remain at the same number, with Mercedes and Aston Martin losing time in the wind tunnel compared to previous.

F1 wants to cut costs

Formula 1 has relied mainly on wind tunnel testing and the computer programme CFD since in-season testing was abolished. This allowed parts on the car to be tested until your heart's content, but for several years this has been restricted by regulations.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the strings were tightened all the way. F1 teams were completing 65 wind tunnel runs per week until 2020 but were only allowed to do 40 runs in 2021. In 2021, a scale was also attached to give smaller teams more time to catch up with the top teams. Per spot in the championship, a constructor was given 2.5% more or less time in the wind tunnel. The leader in the championship got 90% of the 40 or 36 runs per week. The runner-up got 112.5% or 45 runs per week.

That scale was further adjusted for the 2022-2025 F1 seasons, with the differences per spot being as much as 5%. As a result, the championship leader gets only 70% (28 runs per week), and the lowest team gets 115% (46 runs per week).

Red Bull Racing's cost cap penalty

Teams received wind tunnel time for the first half of the 2023 F1 season based on their 2022 constructors' results. Red Bull Racing, as champions, thus got the least amount of wind tunnel time, followed by Ferrari and Mercedes. The most time was given to Williams, who finished last in the championship.

While the current F1 season is yet to reach the halfway point of the number of races, the balance is already being taken. Teams also use the wind tunnel in the off-season in January and February, so half a year is measured based on half a calendar year. This means the new calculations will be taken on 30 June 2023.

Although the race weekend in Austria starts on Friday, 30 June, there are no points to be distributed on that Friday. This means that the constructors' standings after the Canadian Grand Prix will also be the standings by which the new wind tunnel time will be distributed.

For Red Bull Racing, nothing changes. The Austrian racing team is well in the lead and still gets 70% based on their place in the standings. However, Red Bull still have a penalty outstanding for exceeding the budget cap in 2021, giving them a 10% reduction on wind tunnel time. This brings Red Bull's total wind tunnel time to 63%. The penalty is valid until 26 October 2023.

Blow for Aston Martin

Behind Red Bull, differences can be noticed. Mercedes is now second, losing 5% (2 runs per week) of wind tunnel time. For Aston Martin, now third, the blow is even more significant. As number seven, they got 100% of the 40 runs per week until 30 June 2023. From 1 July 2023, Aston Martin will have only 80%. So the team is losing eight runs per week and will have to be efficient with the new wind tunnel.

On the other hand, Ferrari is the 'winners' in this respect, as the Italians are down two spots from the end of 2022 and thus get four more runs per week. Alpine, McLaren, and Alfa Romeo have dropped one spot and get 5% more time in the wind tunnel. It is the status quo for Haas, while Williams and AlphaTauri have swapped places at the last minute. Alexander Albon's seventh-place finish in Canada means Williams is now ninth, losing 5% wind tunnel time. AlphaTauri is now last and thus gets 46 runs a week to make up the deficit.