Red Bull expects new wind tunnel online during 2027

Red Bull expects its new wind tunnel to come online sometime during 2027. Team principal Laurent Mekies expects it to play a role in the later stages of development of the 2027 car and, he hopes, through most of the 2028 car’s development. He gave the outlook after Friday’s first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The facility is being developed at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters to replace the team’s ageing tunnel in Bedford. Mekies described Red Bull’s current tunnel as probably the oldest on the grid, while crediting it with producing extraordinary results in recent years.

Mekies expects the new facility to unlock potential and give the aerodynamics department another way to develop ideas. He said its competitive advantage would not arrive as soon as it was switched on.

Mekies did not name an opening quarter. He said the time needed to complete calibration work would determine when the facility could start operating.