F1 News: Red Bull Chief Hits Back At AlphaTauri Relationship Critics - "Fundamental Differences"

Several teams have raised concerns about the parts exchange between Red Bull and AlphaTauri.

With Red Bull and its junior team AlphaTauri strengthening their ties for next season, rival teams have raised concerns about the parts being shared between them. However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has confirmed the exchange is within the regulations.

AlphaTauri is not only set to be rebranded for the next season but it would also draw design inspiration from Red Bull's Formula 1 car. But the new development has teams worried about how much of the 'inspiration' is being passed on, with McLaren team boss Andrea Stella pointing out AlphaTauri's late-season performance gains.

According to Germany’s Motorsport Magazin, the topic of exchange between the two teams was to be raised in the Abu Dhabi F1 Commission meeting but, Horner denied such a topic being raised in the meeting. 

He went on to defend the partnership between Red Bull and AlphaTauri, clarifying that everything between the two teams was being done as per the rules. On the contrary, he stressed that there are other cars on the grid that bear more resemblance to Red Bull's RB19 than AlphaTauri's AT04. He told the media:

“It wasn’t discussed in the Commission.

“But no. I mean, we’re an awfully long way away from a pink Mercedes.

“There’s some transferable components that are clearly listed within the regulations that you’re allowed to supply. And that’s what they get.

“When you look at the car, there’s quite fundamental differences between their car and a Red Bull Racing car. And arguably, there’s other cars on the grid, which are far closer in concept than an AlphaTauri is.

“You’ve only got to look at an Aston Martin or even a McLaren. If you look around the rear suspension of McLaren, it’s very close in concept to that of our own.”

Horner's mention of a "pink Mercedes" refers to Racing Point's (now Aston Martin) 2020 contender's nickname after it was likened to the championship-winning Mercedes W10 which was used in the 2019 season by the Brackley-based squad.

Horner explained that the relationship between Red Bull and AlphaTauri will be similar to the relationship that Mercedes and Ferrari share with their customer teams. It'll be up to the junior team to use the obtained resources and tools to its advantage, just like how McLaren outpaced Mercedes in the second half of the championship. He added:

“Of course, there’s certain components that we can supply as is the case with Ferrari and Mercedes that supply two Grand Prix teams with gearboxes and suspension and simulation tools, a wind tunnel.

“And that’s the identical relationship between the companies, of course. It’s then down to them how they use those tools.

“And you can see that McLaren have used the tools in certain respects better than their supplier has done in the second half of the year.

“So it’s really down to them, how they made use of what they’re permitted within the regulations.”

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