Red Bull remain on course

Last updated: 1st July 2008

Coulthard: Podium finish

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Fourth place is key objective for British team

After failing to finish among the points in the season opener in Melbourne, Red Bull found a purple patch and picked up points in the next seven races with David Coulthard scoring a podium at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Team principal Christian Horner says the Milton Keynes-based squad are on course to reach their targets for the 2008 campaign.

"The first half of the season has gone pretty well for us. We have taken a big step forward in reliability and our performance has also shown progress since 2007," he said.

"So far, coming up to the British Grand Prix, we have had one hundred percent mechanical reliability in all the races, which is remarkable compared to last year.

"We have already scored as many points in a half season as we did in (all) of 2007 and we have secured our first podium of the year as well as scoring in seven of the eight races to date.

"The only race where we failed to score was in Melbourne where both our drivers were eliminated through accidents. It's a positive start and we are on target to meet our objective of finishing the year in fourth spot in the constructors', but there's still a long way to go.

"With that in mind, there are still developments due on the car to increase performance as we feel we can get closer to McLaren and BMW."

Horner, though, insists their good form so far this season won't affect their planning for the 2009 campaign.

"While pushing to maintain our fourth place in the Championship, we are also working on our 2009 programme and, as a smaller team, we have to be smart in the way we use our resources," he added.

"The best form of defence is attack and that's what we'll continue to do for the rest of 2008. Within our technical group we have the capacity to develop the current car while looking at 2009 and Adrian Newey's primary focus is now the 2009 car.

"But he is still overseeing the development of RB4. It is a juggling act but one which we feel we can deal with. We just have to think smarter than the bigger teams we are fighting against, work hard and keep our head down."