Explained: The reason Red Bull’s F1 wind tunnel plans have changed

F1 analyst and broadcaster Sam Collins reported on Monday via X that Red Bull's plans have been “set back” with the team withdrawing their planning application for the new facility in Milton Keynes. 

There were suggestions this would cause a major delay to Red Bull’s future development, however, it has since emerged that the reason for the withdrawal of planning permission was simply down to the team finding a different location. 

Red Bull originally planned to construct the new facility near to their technology campus in Milton Keynes, but have now found a more appropriate location. 

According to respected Dutch F1 journalist Erik van Haren, Red Bull insiders insist this decision has “no influence on costs and planning”. 

Red Bull hope to have the new facility up and running in time for the development of their 2026 F1 car.

The reigning world champions are currently in the process of carrying out a major expansion to their Milton Keynes headquarters, including the construction of a new Red Bull Powertrains facility that will be backed by Ford. 

An upgraded wind tunnel is long overdue for Red Bull, who have been using an old RAE Bedford research facility that was designed at the end of World War 2 to develop aircraft ever since their F1 arrival. 

Last year, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described their current wind tunnel as being a “relic of the Cold War”. 

“We operate out of a windtunnel that is actually a listed building, it’s a relic of the Cold War,” he said. “It’s not a state-of-the-art windtunnel that our competitors enjoy.

“It was built in the 1950s and it has its own limitations when it’s either too cold or too hot at getting the conditions and the operating temperature at that tunnel to the right temperature.”