Max Verstappen commences his defense of the championship with the RB20.
Helmut Marko, an advisor for Red Bull, acknowledges that the team is proceeding with caution when it comes to the potential success of their Formula 1 innovations for 2024, which are reminiscent of those utilized by Mercedes.
Last season, Red Bull secured both titles effortlessly, winning 21 out of 22 races. They had initially planned for an evolutionary approach for this season.
However, the team has introduced some distinctive design elements on the RB20 that have been observed on previous Mercedes cars under the latest ground effect regulations.
These design elements include deep channels in the engine cover and a vertical opening on the sidepods, which have drawn comparisons to Mercedes’ ‘zeropod’ concept.
Mercedes had initially adopted a slender sidepod solution at the start of 2022 but abandoned it after two unsuccessful attempts.
Marko admits that Red Bull has seen promising results in the wind tunnel, similar to what Mercedes experienced, but only time will tell if it translates to success on the track.
When asked about Red Bull’s attempt to rectify Mercedes’ mistakes, Marko told Servus TV, “They were also confident in the data supporting their sidepod-less concept, but it didn’t work in practice.
“We will see during testing if we can successfully implement this solution or something similar.”
He added, “Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer, has always favored cars without radiators. However, the engine department cannot accommodate that. It’s logical.
“We don’t have it as extreme as Mercedes, but we have a similar idea in that direction.”
Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, describes the RB20 as a product of “controlled aggression,” while Sergio Perez applauds Red Bull for their bold move.
Marko confirms that Red Bull has made more significant developments on the RB19, the previous title-winning car, than anticipated. He states that the launch-spec car will serve as a foundation.
“It’s more than just an evolution. It’s a small revolution,” the Austrian explains.
“It lays the groundwork for what will be used in 2024. The simulation and wind tunnel testing have been very successful.”
Verstappen will be behind the wheel of Red Bull’s updated F1 car on the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Perez taking over tomorrow morning.
According to motorsportweek.com
