Although Horner expects the usual contenders to be in the mix in 2022, he admits that the pecking order is difficult to predict.
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As Formula One enters a new era with overhauled technical regulations in 2022, Christian Horner says he will be taking all of Red Bull’s rivals seriously. The new set of rules, which will be led by a ‘ground effect’ aerodynamic concept, updated bodywork, and larger, 18-inch tyres, will result in cars that are vastly different from those seen in the 2021 season. As a result, the form book could be ripped up, with Ferrari, McLaren, and Alpine all aiming to compete at the front, and several other teams switching their focus to the new rules early on.
Although Horner expects the usual contenders to be in the mix in 2022, he admits that the pecking order is difficult to predict, and he isn’t ruling out the possibility of a team leaping forward from the back of the grid.
“I think it’s probable that the big teams will be at the front. Which order they’ll be in is difficult to predict,” Horner told RacingNews365.com in an exclusive interview. “It’s the same group of people that were designing last year’s car that designed this year’s car, so it’s how you deal with a problem, how you interpret regulations, and the creativity of the group that differentiates them. It will be interesting to see what our competitors [do], but I think it’d be foolish to underestimate any of the teams with such a big regulation change.”
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Aside from the rule changes, F1’s cost cap, which was implemented for the 2021 season, is also a factor. The initial budget for all ten teams was USD 145 million, but that will drop to USD 140 million in 2022, with another USD 5 million cut planned in 2023.
“For sure, it was a difficult challenge. But we have to remember that [we] carried over probably 60% of the car,” the Red Bull team principal said. “The big challenge for 2022 is that one, the budget is reduced by five million, and two, every component is different, is brand-new. [We’ve got] a new chassis, new steering wheel, new pedals, new suspension – new everything! That obviously carries a considerable cost with it.”
“It’s not a cheap car, from what we’ve seen so far, in terms of construction, so that, inevitably, will be putting all teams under [pressure]. I believe every single team in the paddock is at the budget cap limit for this year,” he added.
