The Milton Keynes-based squad is coming off the again of a very dominant 2023 marketing campaign the place it gained all however one race en path to capturing each the constructors’ and drivers’ crowns with Max Verstappen.
However regardless of the size of its record-breaking feats, the crew will not be getting complacent that its present benefit can be locked in for an additional season – so it’s pushing onerous to eke out additional beneficial properties over the winter.
And having stopped growth early this season so it may focus on its future challenge, there was speak that the RB20 can be a step change in design and appears from the present automotive.
Talking on the FIA Prize Gala in Baku, world champion Verstappen felt that whereas the RB19 was so good, there have been some pretty clear areas the place beneficial properties may very well be discovered.
“I do not assume you may speak about percentages or no matter, however there are at all times issues that we are able to do higher,” he mentioned.
“We all know that the automotive has been very, very dominant, however we have additionally seen just a few weaknesses within the automotive the place I believe we are able to do higher. And that is what we’re engaged on for subsequent 12 months.”
Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
Christian Horner, Staff Principal, Purple Bull Racing
Staff boss Christian Horner believes that with no main rule modifications into 2024, there’s a good alternative for Purple Bull’s rivals to catch up – which is why it was pushing to enhance a lot of the RB19.
“I believe with steady rules, we all know that the sector will converge,” he mentioned. “We have seen that at totally different factors through the course of the previous 12 months. So for us, we’ve got to enhance and we’ve got to maintain evolving.
“I believe all facets of RB19 are being checked out to evolve into RB20, and hopefully make it even stronger as a result of I am certain that is what our rivals can be trying to do.”
Don’t measure enhancements by numbers
Purple Bull and Verstappen know that bearing this 12 months’s achievements in quantity phrases can be nearly inconceivable – and is probably one thing that can by no means be completed.
Nonetheless, the crew feels that even when it doesn’t win one other 20 races in 2024, there may be nonetheless room to really feel that it has completed a greater job.
Verstappen mentioned: “Realistically, after all, it might’t be significantly better than what we’ve got achieved. However I believe it is not at all times about attempting to win 20 races.
“It’s additionally about simply looking for enhancements inside your self, and throughout the automotive. And if which means subsequent 12 months we’ve got improved the automotive and we are able to struggle for the championship once more, however you solely win 10 races, that is additionally effective.
“It is simply been additionally that the competitors round us has been fairly up and down. One weekend it was this crew, then the opposite week it was one other crew. So, I count on subsequent 12 months individuals are studying loads with this new regulation as effectively that it’s going to truly be fairly a bit nearer.”
