Red Bull Racing is finally upgrading its “ancient” wind tunnel, and it’s happening faster than expected.
According to the team’s technical director Pierre Wache the construction is three months ahead of schedule.
“We are three months ahead of the plans” Wache said. “The guys are doing a very good job. But you never know if delays pop up elsewhere—it’s a big project.”
The team’s current tunnel near Bedford is more than 70 years old ! Christian Horner has even called it “a Cold War relic”.
While Red Bull has managed to keep it functional with numerous updates over the years, its age has finally started to show. It’s no small feat they’ve remained dominant in Formula 1 using such outdated infrastructure.
“It is the oldest wind tunnel in the sport” Wache pointed out. “I even discussed it with Jos [Verstappen] the other day—they already used this tunnel when he was at Arrows.”
Yes, Jos Verstappen. That’s how old this thing is.
The tunnel has done its job, but in a sport where milliseconds matter, relying on old tech comes with limits. Wache explained, “There is plenty of newer stuff inside, but we have some limitations. We know those limitations and we try to work around them, but that is clearly more difficult when you are looking for a small delta.”
A New Era
The decision to build a new wind tunnel was a no-brainer for Red Bull. McLaren recently upgraded its facility in Woking. Aston Martin has a modern setup in Silverstone. Red Bull needed to catch up, and now they’re on track to do it.
The new wind tunnel, located at the Red Bull Campus in Milton Keynes, is expected to be ready by 2026. It’s aimed at influencing the 2027 car, though Wache hinted at earlier benefits. “Maybe it can already help us later in the year [2026],” he said.
Formula 1 teams live and die by the details. A top-notch wind tunnel is essential for testing aerodynamics and staying competitive. Red Bull has squeezed every ounce of performance out of its current tunnel, but they know a new one will bring advantages they’ve been missing.
“It is why we invest in the new tunnel,” Wache said. “We think we can have a benefit from the new one that we don’t have with the current model.”
For Red Bull, this isn’t just about keeping up. It’s about staying on top. A new era of Formula 1 is approaching, and Red Bull is making sure they’re ready to dominate it. The future looks bright—and fast.
