Red Bull boss, Christian Horner is confident that his team's focus on the 2021 titles has not compromised its 2022 hopes.

In the end, even Mercedes switched focus as F1 looked ahead to one of the biggest rules overhauls in living memory.

However, Red Bull in its determination to win both titles for the first time since 2013, continued to pour resources into its 2021 effort.

Other than the need to judge the exact point at which resources could be switched teams were further compromised by the restrictions of the budget cap.

While the likes of Haas, which, in all honesty, didn't have a hope in hell of improving its 2021 position could switch focus to 2022 almost from the outset, in it fierce, season-long battle with Mercedes, Red Bull understandably faced a tough call.

Though he remains confident that Bahrain will not see his team caught on the back foot, Christian Horner admits that he could be wrong.

"Well, when Ferrari turn up with the fastest car and smash us out of the park at the first race, then you'll have to say that probably did," joked the Briton, before adding: "I think that we've all known that big regulation changes coming for 2022 and we've applied our resources accordingly."

Ironically, his comment comes after Ferrari's sporting director, Laurent Mekies said pretty much the same thing.

"We made very clear from very early on, we took the decision to switch to 2022," said the Frenchman. "We were hoping at the time, because we are quite distant from McLaren, which is early on in the season, we were hoping that we would be able to fight eventually for the third place.

"But we had chosen to make zero compromise for 2022," he added. "The only development we had in the second half of the year was the hybrid, which again is something we'll use for next year."

"Each team has done what they feel is right," says Horner. "Of course, it's put pressure on the organisation, but that's where I think the team have been outstanding because to keep a development rate on a new set of regulations, and keep a focus on this year's 2021 car has taken monumental effort.

"The commitment shown by all of the team throughout the team has been phenomenal," he added. "But you know, we'll only see when we come back in, what a couple of months' time with completely new cars, they look different, they're going to feel different, they're going to drive differently, who's got it right, who's got it wrong."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 14/01/2022 2:45

"@ F1 fan....I have not seen any incontrovertible evidence that proves your accusations of 'handing over the driver's championship' to anyone. The very core premise of any business is to grow. Liberty has exercised this corporate objective. So what? I have been a serious critic of Liberty for embracing certain elements of so called 'Hollywood Flash' and, IMO, rightly so. The same goes for the 'woke' support that they have embraced which is simply a front but as for manipulating a win for Verstappen...?

Mercedes/Hamilton [ pathetic losers ] have lit the fuse of dissension merely to hide that fact that were outwitted by Red Bull. If they had pitted at the same time as Verstappen then we would have witnessed a much different event. The outcome of this proposition we will never know but it would've been a worthy race to the flag. The accusations levelled at Masi et al is all an attempted manipulation to cover off their failure to 'roll the dice' They didn't and they lost. Get over it and enjoy what the future holds in '22.

"

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2. Posted by Editor, 08/01/2022 16:42

"@ F1 Fan

Well, we hear from a very reliable source that F1 is now "officially" for sale.

Of course, we've known for some time, nd have reported as such, that Liberty was looking to sell, but now it is "official".

Of course, depending who the buyer might be will decide whether things get better or worse."

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3. Posted by F1 fan, 08/01/2022 15:14

"As a F1 follower for the past 48 years, I am sad to say that the shallow victory of Red Bull's driver,
Max Complainer and the Pit wall Whiners will more than likely be the last F1 race I watch. I have tickets to the Canadian GP and I am in the process of relinquishing them. The "handing over of the Driver's Championship" to Max was pathetic. I am convinced that the powers that be at Liberty media have manipulated the sport that we love into a real life reality show. Not what I signed up for all those years ago. Bernie understood the sport, Liberty Media understands ratings. "

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4. Posted by JamesD, 04/01/2022 16:19

"I am confident in 2022 that Christian will have lots to moan about as usual ..."

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Horner confident 2022 hopes have not already been compromised

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