Despite the buzz around a significant upgrade to Red Bull’s racing machine, RB21, the team’s technical director, Pierre Waché, has dismissed such whispers, stating that the enhancements planned for the car during the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain are not as extensive as speculated.
The striking similarities between the RB21 and its predecessor, the RB20, had sparked rumors about a major overhaul. However, Waché, in an exclusive interview with PlanetF1.com, clarified that while there would be new elements to assess on the final testing day, they would not dramatically alter the car’s core design.
The RB21’s debut performance at the Bahrain International Circuit, with Max Verstappen at the wheel, was promising – he clocked the third fastest time, only a fraction of a second slower than the McLaren driven by Lando Norris. This debut also saw Liam Lawson, a newcomer to the Red Bull team, completing 58 laps, ending the day with a time only nine-tenths slower than Verstappen.
The visual similarities between the RB21 and RB20 are evident, but the RB20 had a challenging mid-season due to some technical complexities, despite its incredible speed when operated within the right parameters. However, a subsequent revision to the floor design helped recover some confidence, positioning the RB21 as an evolution of the previous model, not a drastic deviation.
A report from Germany’s Motorsport-Magazin hinted at a major upgrade package for the RB21, potentially debuting during the Bahrain test run. But Waché categorically denied this, affirming that the car’s performance won’t be radically different.
He emphasized that the process of evaluating new parts is consistent with previous years. The team continually attempts to bring development components to the track as quickly as possible, assessing them prior to the first race. Some new parts were indeed planned for the third day of testing, but these were not significantly different from the existing design.
The French engineer further stated that the car tested on the Bahrain track would be largely the same as the one that would be seen in action in Australia. He also shed light on the potential of the current regulations, emphasizing that the key challenge lies not in the regulations, but in ensuring that the car’s peak performance is accessible to the driver.
Adding to Waché’s comments, Red Bull team boss, Christian Horner, reiterated at a Bahrain press conference that the car currently being tested is essentially the same vehicle that will kick off the season in Australia. There may be minor tweaks, but the fundamental design will be the same.
Horner also acknowledged the convergence in car design due to the prevailing regulations, but stressed the importance of extracting maximum performance from the existing package. He also expressed confidence that the tight competition would make for thrilling racing, ultimately benefiting fans and followers of the sport.
