Late engine deal won’t compromise 2016 design - Horner

Christian Horner is confident the design of Red Bull’s 2016 charger will not be compromised by the lateness of the engine deal his team has secured.

The energy drinks giant ended months of uncertainty when it confirmed last Friday that it had finally managed to get a power supply for next year. Having decided to part ways with Renault one season ahead of schedule, Red Bull then approached all the other three engine suppliers – Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda – to find a replacement, but to no avail.

While Horner would not disclose any further details about the deal, it is understood that Red Bull will carry on with its current power unit partner in 2016.

“We’ve designed four different variants of [the design],” the team principal revealed. “Inevitably that has put some delay into the process, but with next year being relatively static in rules it is very much an evolution.

“For sure it has made the timescales much shorter, but the whole team in Milton Keynes has done a superb job in working tremendously hard and long hours to try and get us back on to schedule.”

Speaking of this year’s RB11 design, Horner insists its chassis has been amongst the very best, especially after receiving a major mid-season upgrade at the British Grand Prix.

“What has been satisfying from Silverstone onwards is the fact that the chassis has been right there. At any opportunity in any sector that isn’t dominated by straight-line speed, we have seen the car be really competitive.

“The last sector in Abu Dhabi all weekend, when you consider the wing levels we are running in comparison to some of our opponents, we are enormously impressive. I think it demonstrates the class that the chassis has.

“The end result [Daniel Ricciardo finished sixth; Daniil Kvyat 10th] was the absolute maximum and all credit to the guys and girls in Milton Keynes for producing a fine chassis this year.”

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