Interesting look at the origins of what's currently happening. Formula 1 - Horner: Energy recovery behind testing woes - Yahoo Eurosport UK The French manufacturer has less experience of energy recovery systems in Formula 1 as when KERS originally came into F1 in 2009 it was reliant on its works team to head up development of the unit. Red Bull, which developed its own KERS unit for its championship winning cars from 2011-2013, has been working with Renault to help troubleshoot the problems. "We have been supporting them with our experience on the whole energy recovery side of the package," Horner told AUTOSPORT. "That's where we can contribute the most and that's where the biggest issues are at the moment. "We have had a limited involvement, and are getting more and more involved." Horner believes that former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore's decision that his team (now Lotus) rather than the French manufacturer itself should develop KERS originally is at the heart of the struggles. Red Bull crisis continues in Bahrain "If you look at the situation at Renault, Flavio made the decision years ago that energy recover and KERS would be dealt with by the race team, not the engine manufacturer. "Renault then sold the race team and we picked up KERS and developed our own system that we ran within the gearbox. "Now, on the new powertrain, energy recovery has gone back to being the responsibility of the engine supplier, which is where it should sit but they have had a steeper learning curve than perhaps Mercedes or Ferrari who have a few years of experience." Horner also paid tribute to the response both from his team, which has been working flat out, and Renault in solving the problems. While there are still problems, major changes have been made to the Red Bull RB10 since the opening test at Jerez. But the late shipping of components meant that the team lost a lot of running on the first day of the Bahrain test on Wednesday as it prepped the car. "There have been significant changes from the first test in Jerez, so the lead times and getting components made, along with the fact that the test isn't in Europe and is seven or eight hours away, has made things tighter. "It has had its challenges, but the way that the team has responded to it and the way that Renault is responding is everything you could ask for."
When Nikita Khrushchev had to resign from his position as leader of the USSR, he told his successor: "I´ve left two letters for you in your desktop. When things go wrong for the first time, open the first letter. If you have problems again, open the second letter". When Khrushchev´s successor opened the first letter, he read: "Blame your predecessor". When later he had to open the second letter he read: "Write two letters".
LOL if Christian Horner knows how to do anything, anything at all, it's how to blame others. I was fed up with Red Bull long before this year and I hope they have an absolutely miserable season
+1 Friggin man up and take charge of the situation, instead of blaming other. Red Bull is already looking at excuses should they fail this season.
I'm no Red Bull fan and they have their issues, but all of the power unit performance is Renault's responsibility. It's also the same issue Honda is going to have. Their KERS system was never raced and McLaren have been using the Mercedes unit. Unless they've gotten substantial expertise from the people they've poached it'll also be a rough road for them.
Lol. Horner has played an impressive roll against all odds to build a team (Formerly Jaguar) that went from barely able to finish races to being serious contenders and one of few teams to win the title 4 times on the trot. EVERYONE said he was too young and would fail etc. Underestimate him at your own risk...
Wouldn't write them off completely. If anything, in 2015 they'll be a force to be reckoned with again (as long as they can keep Seb! )
Having newey and seb helped him a wee bit.....that said I think Renault and red bull were incredibly stupid to keep developing the car long after the titles were locked up and at least for now are behind; in that regard Horner must be blamed (along with Renault) for appearing to be ill-prepared at the start of the season. Blaming flabio is useless as the writing was on the wall long ago.
Me thinks that they can come on strong this year and take it. As I've been saying, and as Horner said the other day, it's a marathon not a sprint. First half of last season lotus and Ferrari looked good too......you never know.......
Maybe you are right but I see Horner's role differently. I see him as the corporate face, the lobbyist, the spokesperson. Whether he alone is responsible for the team's organizational structure and resulting success is another matter. All the same, Red Bull are the first to point and cry. Some of this is to be expected in F1, but I'd contend they've rewritten the book on the topic.
They and Renault have no one but themselves to blame for their mess, but I hardly count them out. The technical rules may have changed but the rules of aerodynamics have not and that is where they shine.
