Red Bull “brave” to change F1 car concept for 2024, says Perez

Crimson Bull was the final F1 staff to unveil its 2024 challenger final week, with the design that includes a number of daring concepts – particularly across the sidepod and engine cowl space.

The squad has seemingly drawn inspiration from different outfits, together with Mercedes’ bodywork with gulleys working from the halo via the highest of the engine cowl.

After profitable 21 out of twenty-two grands prix final yr, Crimson Bull developed the RB20 to the extent that Perez has referred to it as a brand new “idea” fairly than simply an evolutionary step.

PLUS: The Mercedes-like design choices in Crimson Bull’s follow-up to an F1 world-beater

Requested if he was shocked to see components of Mercedes design on the brand new machine, Perez admitted: “Ah, sure. A bit.

“However on the similar time, it simply exhibits how a lot this staff is trying to transfer ahead and pushing all of the boundaries. It is actually nice to see.

“It simply exhibits the starvation that there’s on this staff. You recognize, we had such a dominant automobile final yr that you just would not think about us altering the idea as a lot, and I believe it is actually courageous from Crimson Bull to try this.”

Whereas final yr’s RB19 was environment friendly all spherical, Perez mentioned one space specifically had been improved.

“Basically our low-speed appears to be wanting in a greater window, however clearly till we hit the observe we won’t know,” he added.

Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing

Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool

After recording a 290-point deficit to team-mate Max Verstappen and failing to take any victories within the final 18 rounds of the previous season, the Mexican is aware of he wants higher performances to maintain Crimson Bull’s belief from 2025 onwards.

“We had some points because the automobile was creating,” he defined about final yr’s hardship.

“And the best way we had been making an attempt to enhance these points meant that we had been simply taking efficiency out of the automobile, and never essentially going sooner. Making it extra snug shouldn’t be essentially sooner.”

Perez mentioned these points have now been understood and is bullish about his possibilities going into his 14th marketing campaign in F1, claiming: “I do count on to be at my greatest for this yr.”

When requested if he thought he may combat for the championship or if Verstappen was on one other planet for everybody, the veteran was extra cautious.

“We have not began the yr, all of us have the identical alternatives,” he mentioned.

“I believe the goal for all of us is to win the championship.”