Breaking news
Formula 1 Bahrain GP
Red Bull searching for "magic password" for "tricky" RB15
Red Bull says it is hoping to find a "magic password" that will unlock the sweet spot of its RB15, which has a tricky narrow set-up window.
Jonathan Noble
Published: Apr 2, 2019, 8:16 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Both Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly have struggled to get the most out of their Honda-powered car in Bahrain, taking fourth and eighth place respectively in the race.
“I think it’s a tricky car at the moment,” said Horner. “Our operating window looks quite narrow and Max has coped with that extremely well.
"I think it’s been harder for Pierre. That will come I’m sure.”
Horner said that the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, where Red Bull’s drivers never found themselves with a completely comfortable set-up, has highlighted where the team needs to improve – and given some indicators of what needs to be worked on at this week’s post-race test.
“It’s perfect timing,” said Horner about the test. “We need to find more performance.
"Ferrari were very strong here this weekend. Mercedes got lucky with a one-two, but Ferrari were the dominant team.
“Trying to understand where are our strengths/weaknesses to Ferrari here is quite important. Once you get into a window, particularly with these tyres, they looked a different team to two weeks ago. And vice versa with Mercedes.
"It’s just understanding what the magic password is.”
Red Bull has experimented with numerous set-up directions in the opening two races to try to figure out what is needed. And although some of the attempts have not worked out, Horner says the process has been valuable in improving the team’s understanding of the car.
“When you’re chasing issues like this and you’re moving a problem around, it usually points the finger in other areas,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of good data from this weekend and starting to understand areas we need to be focusing on.”
Horner made it clear that while Ferrari’s straightline speed points to a good power advantage over Honda, it is not his team’s engine partner that is holding it back right now.
“Ferrari look like they’ve selected another gear. It’s been enormously impressive, their straightline performance,” he said.
“We’ve got more to sort out on the chassis side. The engine’s continuing to make good progress. So, our focus is very much on trying to understand the tyre issues and get the car into a good operating window.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15, leads Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images
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 Schumacher begins maiden Ferrari F1 test in Bahrain
Next article Ricciardo not yet in tune with "different beast" Renault
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
More from
Red Bull Racing
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 h
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
10 h
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Latest news
IndyCar 2026 season review: ECR
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 2 h
IndyCar 2026 season review: ECR
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
Nick Sanchez will compete for 2027 NASCAR Truck title with McAnally-Hilgemann
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
3 h
Nick Sanchez will compete for 2027 NASCAR Truck title with McAnally-Hilgemann
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
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