FOrmula One’s season opener finally came to an end on Thursday as Red Bull unveiled its final challenger for the year. Happily, considering it was mostly a series of low-key complaints, the car was mostly released online with little fanfare and details, but it ended with something of a bang. Red Bull are likely to make their rivals nervous before turning the wheel in anger.
Unsurprisingly, the RB20 launch was led by the appearance of team principal Christian Horner, who spoke publicly for the first time since an investigation was launched nearly two weeks ago after a staff member complained about his conduct.
He has repeatedly denied the veracity of the accusations, while also dutifully trying to draw attention to the new cars on display at the event. This is largely a hopeless task. Horner will retain at least the same treatment as his car until the investigation is concluded.
However, their rivals will go out of their way to take a look at the new model, causing gasps when the RB20 appears under the lights.
For two years, Red Bull completely dominated F1. Led by technical director Adrian Newey, their interpretation of the new 2022 regulations, particularly the role of ground effect aerodynamics, has been a remarkable feat, delivering a design that proves to be untouchable.
A year later, expectations that the rivals would pick up the pace and advance to Red Bull were dashed, surprising the world champions as they moved further ahead. They won 21 of 22 games with RB19, achieving unprecedented success.
The team acknowledged midway through the season that there might be diminishing returns from development as they felt they were approaching the limits of regulations. Improvements to the already superlative kit are expected for 2024, and an element of speed convergence is expected as their rivals edge closer to Red Bull’s designs.
Instead, what Red Bull launched on Thursday was radical development, innovation and experimentation rather than conservative evolution. Rather than adjusting to achieve marginal gains, they boldly seek to push boundaries.
One of the car’s weak points last season was through slow corners, and it was far from a true Achilles’ heel, making it vulnerable on street circuits such as Monaco and Singapore. In fact, that race was lost to Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz at Marina Bay. It’s certainly irritating, and the team has clearly begun to remedy the situation. With this advantage elsewhere, innovation must be aimed at solving unique problems.
The season hasn’t started yet, but Newey and his team are starting out with perhaps the goal of building a car that can return to that elusive run of undefeated championships.
What’s most striking about the design is not just a radical departure, but also a striking embodiment of elements that bear on the Mercedes design palette that the team stuck with for two unsuccessful seasons before abandoning it in 2024. Particularly the vertical sidepod inlets, something Mercedes has now ditched from its controversial zero-sidepod design, and the bulge under the hood that was a cooling feature from last year’s Mercedes.
Even Red Bull’s all-conquering world champion Max Verstappen admitted as much when asked about the similarities. “I’d still call it Red Bull style, but I know what you mean,” he said.
Horner explained that the changes were driven by performance studies, with simulations backing up their theories, and he in turn supported the team’s bold direction. “This is not a conservative evolution,” he said. “There’s some great innovation.”
Newey also exuded a quiet confidence as he launched the car, feeling it was no figment of his imagination.
To be fair, Mercedes didn’t simply follow last year’s Red Bull template like other teams, and also showed off its own innovations, including a sidepod configuration, moving the cockpit rearwards as requested by Lewis Hamilton and rear and rear. front wing.
However, it’s impossible not to imagine that the team would be furious if Red Bull managed to achieve the sidepod design they had promised but were forced to abandon.
How this will all play out, and whether Red Bull once again leave their rivals in a corner or even a dead end, is still speculation, but not for long. Three days of testing from Wednesday will begin in Bahrain ahead of the first race at Sakhir Circuit on March 2. Time is precious, so there must be cards on the table.
Ominously, Verstappen believes Red Bull has victory again. “What I like about this team is we have a great team,” he said. “But they took a chance and really went all out and tried to make things better.”
