For two days last week the Red Bull racing mechanics were allowed out of their Milton Keynes based factory - to undergo training and testing. But this wasn’t an intense boot camp, but the chance to take part in a bit of team building and face some mental as well as physical challenges.

“Everyone had been away for Christmas so this was a way of nice and gently re-focussing everyone before the car build and winter testing,” team manager Jonathan Wheatley explained.

The team chose Bisham Abbey - the choice of UK Olympians and national and international rugby, hockey, golf and tennis players - because the training offered was also able to test and report on hand-eye coordination – all important with this season’s quicker pit stops.

“It was getting everyone to work together as a team and find out what the strengths and weaknesses were and it will be interesting to see how that fits in with the jobs that they do,” said Jonathan.

And while there was some intense physical activity involved (as a couple of limping limbs on Thursday testified) it wasn’t always the honed and toned who came out on top.

“We have got a guy here who eats nothing but chips and crisps,” said Jonathan. “He’s as skinny as you could imagine, but he has got the most amazing hand to eye coordination. So it’s not all to do with fitness.”

Red Bull