Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has sent out the first warning shots of the 2010 championship campaign, saying that his caffeinated team will be even stronger next season after wrapping up a hat trick of wins at the end of 2009.
Sebastian Vettel took the final win of the season in Abu Dhabi, to add to Mark Webber's win in Brazil and Vettel's own triumph in Japan, meaning that Red Bull very much ended 2009 as the form team, despite losing the drivers and constructors championships to early-season pacesetters Brawn GP and Jenson Button.
Next season looks set to be a close fight for the championship, with McLaren and Ferrari both vowing to return to the front after disappointing seasons, and Brawn and Red Bull looking to remain at the front after both having breakthrough seasons in 2009, Horner believes that after their most successful season ever, the team can do even better in 2010, saying that their main problem this season was the time it took to sort their double-diffuser design.
"If you reflect on the season for us, the damage was done in the first third," Horner muttered conspiratorially, "I think in reality, probably the double diffuser had a big impact on that. Brawn GP made hay while the sun shone and also had great consistency and reliability – and we lost too much ground in the first phase of the championship."
The double diffuser, that proved a controversial way around the current restrictive design rules, was introduced by Brawn GP from the start of the season, along with Williams and Toyota, and proved an instant 'must-have' piece of aero kit. But while many other teams caught up fairly quickly, Red Bull took until Monaco to get their design ready, largely due to the extra complication of fitting the design in with their unique pullrod suspension system.
Horner added that Red Bull's form since they brought the diffuser online has been the best in the field.
"I think since Istanbul, we have outscored every team," he guessed, "As I say, the damage was done early on. We've developed the car continually through the season, and every member of the team in Milton Keynes can be very proud of what they have achieved this year.
"We have learned a great deal from this championship and it will make us stronger as a group."
Horner added that Adrian Newey's position as chief designer was now paying off, after a slow start to the team's relationship with him. "We have got a secret weapon – and it is called Adrian Newey," Horner bragged smugly, "He has produced a brilliant car this year. We did not start this year's car early, and there are a lot of lessons that will go from this year's car into next year's car."
He added that winning the last race of the year was a result that would spur the team on in their development throughout the winter.
"Winning the last race for me, if you don't win the championship, is the most important race to win," Horner insisted, "It sets up your whole winter.
"We have a big winter ahead of us – but we have had superb support from Red Bull, from Mr Mateschitz. We've had great support from our engine partner Renault this year – this was their 121st Grand Prix win today. And from all our other partners it has been a great year. But 2010 starts tomorrow."
The team's winter plans are currently being disrupted by a lack of a confirmed engine deal. The team are believed to still be aiming for a Mercedes-Benz supply in 2010, despite McLaren apparently vetoing the German manufacturer's efforts to supply a fourth F1 team.
Should the plans fall through, the team will have to decide whether to stick with Renault, whose engines have proved fast enough but unreliable this season, or chance a switch to the new spec Cosworth engine.
"We really need to come to a conclusion, which I am sure will be done imminently," Horner claimed, "We need to start optimising the car around a specific power plant, but we will certainly not be ignoring the success we have achieved with Renault."
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