---
title: "Red Bull ‘can’t believe’ Mercedes will stop developing 2021 car"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2021/06/28/red-bull-cant-believe-mercedes-will-stop-developing-2021-car/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2021-06-28T11:19:36Z"
modified: "2021-06-28T11:19:39Z"
---

# Red Bull ‘can’t believe’ Mercedes will stop developing 2021 car

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he “can’t believe” Mercedes’ claim it won’t bring any more upgrades to its Formula 1 car for the rest of the season.

Following its fourth straight defat to Red Bull in the Styrian Grand Prix, Mercedes revealed it won’t continue developing the W12 as it shifts focus to next year’s challenger.

Lewis Hamilton pleaded to his team to bring some upgrades to the upcoming races after seeing race winner Max Verstappen extend his lead in the drivers’ championship to 18 points.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was clear about the team’s situation when speaking after the race, but Horner was sceptical that their main rivals would choose to sacrifice this year in favour of the major regulation changes arriving in 2022.

“What Mercedes do is very much their business, so we’re just focused on ourselves,” said Horner, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

“We know that Toto likes to throw the light somewhere else, so I can’t believe that they’ll go through the rest of this year without putting a single component on the car.

“But, as I say, what we can do is focus on our own job. Of course it is a balancing act between this year and next year, but if that means we’ve all got to work a bit harder than the other teams, we are fully up for it.”

Red Bull has made it clear it plans to push on developing its 2021 car as it eyes a first title in eight years, with the team spotted taking delivery of new parts at the weekend.

Wolff, on the other hand, is wary that diverting attention to the all-new regulations too late could have a disastrous impact in the long-term.

“It is a very, very tricky decision, because we are having new regulations not only for next year but for years to come, a completely different car concept,” Wolff said.

“You’ve got to choose the right balance, and pretty much everybody is going to be on next year’s car. Some may still bring stuff. Red Bull has brought trucks or vans Thursday and Friday with new parts. And fair enough, it’s a strategy.

“And one that proves to be successful as it stands, because here, they were simply in a league of their own car-pace wise.”

Horner said Red Bull is taking stock of how it can balance next year’s resources with its current car, having endured its best start to a season in the V6 hybrid era.

“For the first time in quite a while we’ve come out the blocks this year with a competitive car and we’ve managed to optimise that and tune it,” Horner said.

“But you’re at the top of the curve with these cars, you’re into marginal gains. And obviously when you look at the new car for next year, every time it goes through a development cycle, it’s significant steps.

“So it’s getting that balance right between the marginal gains for this year and the big steps for next year. But that’s no different to how it’s been in the past.”