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Red Bull: '18-hour shifts' to end crisis

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<b>WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK:</b> Red Bull has just over a week to resolve its car-woes before the start of the Australian GP on March 16. <i>Image: AP/Hasan Jamali</i>
<b>WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK:</b> Red Bull has just over a week to resolve its car-woes before the start of the Australian GP on March 16. <i>Image: AP/Hasan Jamali</i>
LONDON, England - Red Bull is "slaving around the clock" to solve its problems ahead of the upcoming season-opening Australian Formula 1 GP.

Amid the reigning champion team's obvious problems with engine partner Renault and the new turbo V6 'power unit', the basic design of the Adrian Newey-penned RB10 is sound.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton calls the car "stunning" and McLaren's Jenson Button also thinks it is fast.

Button said: "I was with (Daniel) Ricciardo for several laps and he couldn't pass me on the straights. He passed me on the outside of turn 11, which is high speed - I've never seen anything like that before."

SOFTWARE TO BLAME

Red Bull's Helmut Marko said the team's normal development processes were also working well ahead of the new season: "Our measurements have shown that new parts worked as desired, making the car better. The fact that it did not look good on the track was due to the engine software."

Marko said Red Bull and Renault would be working hard together in the remaining days before Melbourne (March 16): "We have so much to do  especially the guys responsible for the software who will now slave around the clock on 18-hour shifts, but whoever can win together, can also work hard together."

Mercedes is the clear early-season title favourite but team boss Toto Wolff is not writing off Red Bull: "I'm sure they will come back. The only question is when. We hope as late as possible..."

‘NOT GOING TO RUN AWAY’

Those on the outside, however, are less sure Red Bull can recover quickly. Former F1 driver Timo Glock told T-online: "I think a Mercedes will win the title."

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is not unhappy that his friend Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull are struggling. He told Bild the fans needed a new winner to make the sport exciting again.

Ecclstone said: "Red Bull is not going to run away just because it doesn't win everything again."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
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