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Red Bull partner surprised at the 2022 engine development




Max Verstappen (right) celebrates with Dr. Helmut Marko (left of center) and Masashi Yamamoto (left) after winning the 2021 Drivers' Championship


With the advent of Max Verstappen as world champion, Red Bull is looking to bring momentum to the 2022 season, which features the latest regulations in the sport. With Honda leaving F1 after 2021, however, the team had to make sure they were on track come their engine partner’s final season. Reports suggest that the Japanese engine manufacturer had been working hard to make this happen, and the results show.

The team’s fuel partner ExxonMobil has hailed Honda’s “incredible” efforts to push through developments on its new engine in quick time, which in turn helped achieve Verstappen’s maiden world title in 2021. The team fought back against the then seven-time constructors’ champion Mercedes , whose Lewis Hamilton lost out on the drivers’ championship in the season finale at Yas Marina.

When talking about the development advances made by the team, Tomek Young, the Global Motorsports Technology Manager for ExxonMobil, reflected on the passion that he saw in the garage and the factory. Hey said:

“It still gives me chills to think about these moments of working together. We had multiple engagements a week, constantly looking at data together, early in the morning, late at night – it was very exciting times.”

He also commented on the importance given by the team towards the 2021 overhaul, saying that it was close to a complete redesign:

“Going into 2021, the decision was made by Honda to re-engineer the engine; they didn’t start from scratch, but close to, really going [back] to the drawing board.”

Honda announced midway through 2020 of it’s departure from F1 at the end of next season. This in turn sparked an ambitious effort to fast forward development on their Red Bull project for 2022, which will be the first time the latest regulations are put in place.

Red Bull have formed a powertrain company after reaching an agreement with Honda to use its F1 power unit technology from 2022

#F1

Red Bull have formed a powertrain company after reaching an agreement with Honda to use its F1 power unit technology from 2022#F1 https://t.co/6Nq68YvvTD

I fully believe I can be a world champion at Red Bull, says Sergio Perez

Red Bull boss Christian Horner (left of center) and Sergio Perez (right of center) at the F1 Grand Prix of Abu DhabiRacing Point, now Aston Martin. Hey said:

“To me, at this stage in my career, the most important is I enjoy it, the time I don’t enjoy it will be the time I have to go home because I don’t need any more to be here. I am here because I fully believe I can be a world champion.”

Perez also said that he enjoys working with the team and feels great to be part of it. He played a crucial role in making sure Verstappen was safe from a double-pronged attack in the form of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, being the perfect teammate for the Dutchman on multiple occasions.

Thank you team for all the effort during the season and for making me feel like part of the family. Let’s finish this on a high note! @redbullracing

¡Gracias por todo el esfuerzo dado esta temporada y hacerme sentir parte de la familia, equipo! ¡Vamos a cerrar con todo!

💪 https://t.co/79Uc0TcTcj

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