Red Bull's 2016 RB12 Called Team's Best Chassis Yet by Marko
Red Bull's Helmut Marko says the 2016 RB12 is the best chassis the team has produced, as pre-season testing shows promise despite Mercedes still leading the field.
Red Bull's Helmut Marko has declared the 2016 RB12 the best chassis the team has built, as the squad completed early pre-season testing with a positive outlook. Marko made the claim in late February, highlighting the car's immediate pace and predictable handling, even as the team acknowledged Mercedes would remain out of reach at the start of the season.
Daniel Ricciardo put the RB12 second on the timesheets during the second day of Barcelona testing, trailing only Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel on the same ultra soft compound. Marko noted that the team was running conservatively and could not account for Ferrari's fuel load or engine settings, but was satisfied with the Red Bull's consistent behaviour and responsiveness to set-up changes.
The technical team, led by Adrian Newey in a part-time capacity, has focused on maximising chassis performance while working within the constraints of the Renault-supplied power unit, which Red Bull is running under the Tag Heuer name for 2016. Marko expressed satisfaction with the reliability and mileage achieved in the opening test days, a marked improvement after two seasons of engine-related setbacks.
Engine progress and team outlook
Red Bull and Renault have agreed not to publicly reference each other directly, but both parties have acknowledged improvements with the 2016 power unit. Marko praised Renault's decision to appoint Remi Taffin as technical lead, describing him as a practical engineer who understands issues from trackside experience. The team reported only minor issues during Daniil Kvyat's first runs, with Marko describing engine progress as clear and heading in the right direction.
Renault's Frederic Vasseur confirmed that Red Bull would have parity with the works team on engine specification and said a further upgrade was planned for the near future. The improved reliability and performance in testing have lifted spirits at Red Bull, but the team remains cautious about its chances against Mercedes, which dominated the previous two seasons. Ricciardo himself admitted in 2015 that the chassis had not been at its best, underlining the team's renewed optimism for 2016.
Testing form and expectations for 2016
While Red Bull's early testing pace has been encouraging, the team is aware that headline times can be misleading due to unknown variables such as fuel loads and engine modes. Marko emphasised that the RB12 was quick from the outset and responded logically to changes, a contrast to the unpredictability sometimes seen in previous years. The focus remains on building a strong foundation for the season, with the hope that further power unit developments will allow the chassis to challenge at the front.
For more on Red Bull's previous chassis and engine struggles, see Marko says Red Bull's engine struggle could spark F1 change.
