Christian Horner is refusing to label the 2015 Formula One season a “write off” before it starts but he predicts the gap between Mercedes and the other teams will actually grow rather than close.
It seems to be the end of an era at Red Bull, who have waved goodbye to Sebastian Vettel, on his way to Ferrari in 2015, the man who steered them to four successive World Driver Championships between 2010 and 2013.
Design guru Adrian Newey will remain with the team, but is taking a step back from Formula One, so there is a definite feeling of changing tides for the Milton Keynes-based team.
Horner remains stoic though and is looking forward to Red Bull’s attacking young line-up of Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat in 2015.
“We’re not writing off next year,’ said Horner.
“For sure, the gap that there is, and the performance gains that we hear Mercedes are bringing next year, it’s going to be a massive challenge to reduce that.
“If you believe the numbers that are floating around, I think the gap could actually grow rather than diminish, so that would be rather depressing.”
He is confident in engine provider Renault’s will and commitment, but worries that they might not have the financial muscle to compete with Mercedes, who were such convincing winners of the constructor’s championship this year.
“Renault are putting all the effort they can into next year and we’re hoping to really close that deficit, to put Mercedes under a bit of pressure.
“I think they (Renault) can make an inroad but it will be unlikely to match this year’s engine.
"I think they can get closer to it but of course Mercedes aren’t going to stand still and I think Ferrari are probably in a very similar situation,” he said.
Nothing will change mechanically for the 2015 season for teams, but Horner is keeping one eye on the following season.
“Nothing’s going to change for next year but we can’t afford to not get 2016 right,” he said.
“We’ve basically got a choice. We can either say open everything up for 2016, spend what you like and go for open development which I don’t think any of the manufacturers have the appetite for and you’ll probably lose one or two.
“Or you say let’s try and grab a hold of costs, something that still allows competition but is far more contained and responsible in what it’s providing to the customer as well. For me it seems a far more logical option.”
He added: “It might drive Mercedes away but if you leave it as it is you’re probably going to drive Renault and one or two others away.
“You’ve got to do what’s right for the sport rather than what’s right for an individual manufacturer.”
Horner congratulated “deserving” world champion Lewis Hamilton on his second title, praised outgoing champion and Red Bull driver Vettel and is looking ahead to an exciting future for the team.
“He (Vettel) was very much a boy when he started with Red Bull and grew through the junior programmes. We’ve very much grown together.
“It’ll be sad to see him leave but all we can do is wish him well for the future. In Daniil Kvyat, we’ve got another very exciting prospect for the future.
"Whilst it’s the end of a cycle with Seb, it’s the start of an exciting new cycle for the team as well.”
Horner added: “We’ve got to say congratulations to Lewis. He’s very much the deserving champion.”
