Breaking news
Formula 1
Racing Point: 'Pink Mercedes' route impossible until now
Racing Point says that building a Mercedes lookalike was not possible prior to the 2020 Formula 1 season, despite its ties to the German marque, because of the resources needed to abandon its previous design approach.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Mar 10, 2020, 2:13 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Silverstone-based outfit’s RP20 has taken inspiration from last year’s Mercedes design, and that has been helped by it using the suspension, gearbox and wind tunnel of the German car manufacturer.
While some rivals are unhappy about its move, because they believe all F1 teams should design and build their own cars, Racing Point is clear that it only done what is allowed in the rules.
Technical director Andrew Green said that Racing Point’s decision to abandon its own design to pursue something totally different that had been proved by another team was the result of the outfit simply having cash available to make the change.
Asked if it was a mistake not to have done this before, Green said: “For sure. But we couldn't go this route earlier. Our hands were tied financially, and had been for many, many years. We had to carry over a huge amount of components from one year to the next.
“It wasn't possible to do a reset like we've done. We didn't have the financial resources, we didn't have the people, and we didn't have the manufacturing capability as well. It takes a lot of infrastructure change to be able to do what we've just done.”
Read Also:
- Mercedes-inspired Racing Point "not full-blown Haas model"
- Racing Point not ruling out fighting Ferrari early on
- Sainz: Racing Point hiding its full potential
Green said that without the finances to be able to take on the might of manufacturer teams like Mercedes and Ferrari, receiving assistance from elsewhere was very important.
“I think our strategy is always to be a small/medium-sized team,” he said. “It makes sense financially, and being under a cost cap, to be working with a manufacturer on some components.
“We have been working that way since we worked with McLaren on gearbox hydraulics. We've had gearbox and hydraulics from Mercedes since 2015 and we just expanded that supply ever so slightly for this year.
"We will be evaluating it in under the new regulations as well but I think there's cost benefit to be had.”
With its pace looking promising for the season ahead too, Green thinks that its approach is something that will suit it for the longer term.
“We can sit on the coat tails of some of the big teams,” he said. “And why not? For a team like us with 400-500 people it is a great place to be.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article The changes aimed at keeping McLaren ahead of the midfield
Next article F1 not taking "unnecessary risks" amid coronavirus crisis
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Latest news
Charles Leclerc blames Mexico GP clash on track layout - Fred Vasseur disagrees
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
8 min
Charles Leclerc blames Mexico GP clash on track layout - Fred Vasseur disagrees
Kalle Rovanpera and Ott Tanak set for WRC return as Toyota announces bumper 2027 line-up
WRC
WRC WRC 24 min
Kalle Rovanpera and Ott Tanak set for WRC return as Toyota announces bumper 2027 line-up
Why NASCAR's indecision led to Dodge's decision to return to Cup
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
3 h
Why NASCAR's indecision led to Dodge's decision to return to Cup
Dodge announces return to NASCAR Cup Series in 2027
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 6 h
Dodge announces return to NASCAR Cup Series in 2027
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe