Red Bull are in 'no man's land'

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has admitted that the attentions of the team, particularly their car designers, are almost fully focused on preparations for the 2019 Formula 1 season as the Austrian outfit find themselves in "no man's land" in the current championship.

As things stand in the 2018 constructors' championship, Red Bull are some way behind Ferrari in second place and the leaders, Mercedes, while Renault are 101 points adrift of them in fourth.

With third-place looking increasingly more likely with every race, Horner has revealed the team's attention is swiftly moving towards the assault on next year's title and the aerodynamic changes being implemented on the new cars.

"We have a regulation change coming for next year, the front wing changes the characteristics of the car quite significantly, so we’re effectively in no-man’s land in the Constructors’ Championship, " the Red Bull said in the press conference previewing the Japanese Grand Prix.

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"So obviously, a large amount of resource is already being placed into next year’s programme – but of course any updates we can introduce and learn from, we’re bringing trackside."

For the 2019 season, Red Bull will have switched engine providers from Renault to Honda, and Horner has praised the work ethic and communication between the two companies as they prepare for next year.

"We’ve been very impressed with the progress that Honda have been making during the course of this year," he continued.

"Obviously, we’re now working closely regarding… incorporating the engine into RB15 for next year. I have to say the communication has been excellent between both companies. We’re hugely impressed by the effort, commitment, desire, determination to succeed that there is in Honda."

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