Mat Coch writes:

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has revealed the Milton Keynes squad almost didn't make the opening pre-season test in Jerez. Only an around-the-clock push saw the team head to the Spanish circuit with its new car, though there was a period when it wasn't clear whether the team would be there at all.

"What was particularly impressive for us was to be at that first test after what was absolutely the shortest design and production time of any of our cars to date," Horner revealed.

"We looked at (skipping Jerez) because we didn't think that it would be achievable from a production point of view," he admitted.

So tight was the timing that Red Bull completed the test without a spares package. "But we had a car there," Horner said. "For sure we were later with the car but it's an evolutionary car so of course you get what you've learnt out of RB8 in to RB9 but when you're fighting for a championship right up to the last race it puts some additional pressure on the system."

Balancing resources is expected to be a key part of the 2013 development race, Horner believes. With strong technical regulations changes due for next season how and when a team shifts its focus could impact not only this season, but next.

"We've always got a small group looking at 2014," Horner admitted. "Other teams have bigger groups than us, but it depends who you've got looking at it."