Red Bull setback: 'New wind tunnel only affects RB23'

Red Bull Racing has a state-of-the-art factory in Milton Keynes, the place where the Red Bull Powertrains used from 2026 onwards are also in development. In one area, the Austrian team of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are behind many competitors: with the wind tunnel. It now appears that it will be many years before Red Bull will benefit from a new wind tunnel.

The good news for Red Bull Racing: planning permission has been issued for the construction of a new wind tunnel at the Milton Keynes campus. Construction will finally start in 2024. It will take some time before they see products from it though. Team boss Christian Horner does not expect his team to experience the first benefits of the improved wind tunnel until 2027 - with the RB23.

Red Bull has Cold War relic

"With the wind tunnel we have, which is a Cold War relic, and not particularly efficient, particularly in cold weather, which we tend to get a bit of in the UK. we have to be very, very selective," Christian Horner told media outlets including Speedcafe. "That’s where the team has done brilliantly well, really being selective in where we channel our development."

From the 2026 season, new regulations come into force in Formula 1. The new wind tunnel is not yet ready to be active by then. Horner: "Probably for the ’27. You don’t want to introduce it in-season, you have to nominate a tunnel for the year, so it’ll probably be to do the ’27 car in.”