Red Bull Racing’s drivers have every faith that the team will be able to maintain race-winning form into 2010 after establishing itself as a front-running force this season.
Having claimed no victories and just three podium finishes its first four years of Formula 1, RBR was one of the teams which adapted best to the new technical era and became engaged in a season-long battle with Brawn for the world championships
And although it eventually missed out on both titles, the Milton Keynes-based outfit won six of the season’s 17 rounds – the final three of which came in as many races at the end of the campaign.
The team’s breakthrough year has now left Mark Webber confident that it will be able to pick up where it left off next season, the Australian admitting he would much rather be in RBR’s position than those of the teams forced to catch up over the winter.
“Yes, absolutely. We have got an incredible team back at the factory,” he replied when asked if he thought Red Bull was here to stay at the front of F1.
“We know that we have got under Adrian Newey someone that with him leading these type of regulation changes, particularly with what we had at the start of this year, it was clear as soon as we saw the car that it was going to be a bit of a weapon.
“Unfortunately in a way Brawn got the start with the double diffuser and things like that but in the end our team responded well with great character and next year there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for us not to be starting at the front again.
“I would much, much prefer to be in our position than quite a few other teams but we can never get too complacent. This is Formula 1 and things can change quickly but we are positive about next year, no question about it.”
Team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who won Sunday’s season-ending race in Abu Dhabi to clinch the runners’ up position in the drivers’ championship, thinks the fact RBR has continued developing its RB5 right until the end of the season will only help it into 2010 given the relative rules stability.
Indeed the German thinks that from the platform of regular race winners this year the team will only get stronger.
“Well, I think we are a team, we are professional,” the 22-year-old said.
“You might read here and there that other teams stopped developing for this year, looking ahead to next year, but as I said earlier on, I think the regulations aren’t changing too much.
“Obviously the biggest change is no refueling but other than that the cars will remain similar, similar shapes.
“I think the people know what they are doing back in Milton Keynes. Obviously this year was a great chance for us and as Mark said, we were able to build quite a weapon. So I’m very confident. I think we can only get stronger.”
Despite invariably having a quicker car than Brawn through the season’s second half, Red Bull never managed to get within realistic striking distance of its rival in either championship races as driver errors and mechanical problems cost it dear.
Vettel believes that it was only natural errors crept in as the team gave it everything in a bid to catch Brawn, but is nevertheless sure there will be fewer slip-ups next time around.
“Obviously it was the first time that we were in that position for us, Mark, myself and the team that we were in that position and I think we handled it quite well," he said.
“We made some mistakes here and there but that’s what happens.
“We are not the only ones who made these mistakes and if you are fighting and trying to push and trying to get the last bit out of yourself, out of the team, out of the car, then sometimes you might step over the limit.
“I think it’s totally natural to go through that progress, so we have definitely learned a lot and the important thing is, as I’ve said before, to do it much better next year.”