When Red Bull expects to start using its long-awaited new F1 wind tunnel
Although Red Bull has turned its 2026 Formula 1 season around in impressive fashion, the technical team led by Pierre Wache is still dealing with several limitations behind the scenes. One of the main ones is perhaps the wind tunnel, the oldest on the entire F1 grid. Former team principal Christian Horner repeatedly described Red Bull's wind tunnel as "a Cold War relic" and said working with ...…
The Mercedes driver George Russell has expressed dissatisfaction with Red Bull's performance at the Mexico GP, stating that the team is out of the performance window. Meanwhile, Ferrari is downplaying expectations for the upcoming F1 Mexico GP despite an impressive showing on Friday. Red Bull's wind tunnel, which is currently the oldest on the F1 grid, has been a long-awaited upgrade.
Former team principal Christian Horner has described the facility as a "Cold War relic," highlighting its outdated nature. Red Bull's aerodynamics team leader, James Merrett, acknowledges that the wind tunnel's limitations have not impeded the team's progress so far, but insists that a modern facility would provide a competitive advantage.
McLaren, Aston Martin, and Mercedes have state-of-the-art wind tunnels, which have contributed to their recent success. However, Merrett admits that a new wind tunnel does not guarantee immediate improvements and that it takes time to fully exploit the new tool's potential. Red Bull's new wind tunnel, located on their Milton Keynes campus, is not yet operational and is expected to come online sometime during the next season.
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