Red Bull bosses are confident the team will be competitive from the start in 2022 despite extending their focus on last year's car.

This season sees the introduction of all-new cars, featuring a major shift in design away from an emphasis on over-body downforce. Instead, the reintroduction of ground effect aerodynamics will mean much more performance will come from under the car.

Recently, new Williams driver Alex Albon, who was reserve and development driver at Red Bull in 2021, confirmed he was working 50/50 on both the 2021 and 2022 cars for much of the year but actually spent more time on the prior in the simulator during the closing races.

Even so, Albon "didn't think" Red Bull's strategy would put them "in a bad position" to start this season, a sentiment shared by team boss Christian Horner.

"When Ferrari turn up with the fastest car and smash us out of the park at the first race then you’ll have to say that it probably did [compromise us]," he said.

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"But I think that we’ve all known that big regulation changes are coming for 2022 and we’ve applied our resource accordingly.

"I’m sure each team has done what they feel is right and it’s put pressure on the organisation, of course."

To that point, Horner heaped praise on the team in Milton Keynes for their efforts.

"I think the team have been outstanding," he continued, "because to keep a development rate on a new set of regulations and keep a focus on this year’s car has taken a monumental effort.

"The commitment shown by all of the team, throughout the team, has been phenomenal.

"But we will only see when we come back in a couple of months’ time, with completely new cars.

"They look different, they’re going to feel different, they’re going to drive differently - and who’s got it right, who’s got it wrong? It all starts again."

Motorsport advisor Helmut Marko also voiced optimism that Red Bull was "almost on par" with Mercedes in terms of 2022 car development.

But the Austrian did confirm the use of E10 fuel for this year, which Ferrari has previously claimed caused a 20hp loss in power, was having an impact on their new power unit.

"Honda is working hard on the adaptation," Marko said via Auto Motor und Sport.

"What I hear is positive, but the performance is not yet the same as in 2021. We will generally have to wait to see how it looks in race trim."