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Horner admits to RB8 secrets

ESPNF1 Staff
February 21, 2012 « Wurz returns as Williams mentor | Mercedes unveils new W03 »
Christian Horner: "This time, the secret is in the detail" © Sutton Images
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Christian Horner says that Red Bull is attempting to protect the secrets of the RB8 from its rivals.

Red Bull's new car was launched via a short online video and two studio images prior to the first test in Jerez. With the team having had the quickest car in 2010 and 2011, the rest of the field will be studying the RB8 closely to see how Red Bull has adapted to the change in regulations, and Horner said the team didn't want to give away any details unnecessarily.

"We didn't want it photographed at the first opportunity from every side by our competition," Horner told Auto Motor und Sport. "At last year's launch at Valencia there were 100 photographers all doing their shots from the roof of the pits. In no time at all, everyone knew every dimension of our car."

With an updated exhaust configuration still to be launched, Horner admitted concealing some features in order to give other teams minimum time to copy them.

"Last year we had to have the blown diffuser out early because we had to find out how the exhaust gases affected the tyres. This time, the secret is in the detail, and you don't want to give your competition too much of a helping hand."

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