The Milton Keynes-based team, Red Bull, achieved a historic milestone at the Hungarian Grand Prix by winning 12 races in a row. This remarkable feat surpassed McLaren’s impressive record in 1988 when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost secured 11 consecutive victories before being defeated at the Italian Grand Prix that same year. Red Bull’s outstanding performance in Hungary was attributed to an upgrade in its sidepods and floor, marking the most significant modification made by the team so far this season.
Red Bull’s Strategic Approach to Further Development
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, revealed that the recent upgrades may be the final performance updates for the year. Red Bull must carefully plan how to utilize its wind tunnel development running as it looks towards the RB20. Horner expressed satisfaction with the upgrades, stating, “They fulfilled our expectations. Therefore, we consider it a success.” However, he acknowledged the challenges faced by the team due to their current handicap, emphasizing the need to shift their focus to the following year. Red Bull is at a significant disadvantage in terms of wind tunnel time compared to its competitors, and as a result, they must be highly selective in their usage of it.
Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions: Implications for Red Bull
Under F1’s Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions, teams that are leading in the championship standings receive reduced availability for wind tunnel and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) runs. As the championship leader at the mid-season cut-off point, Red Bull’s baseline allocation is only 70%. In comparison, Mercedes receives 75%, Aston Martin 80%, and Ferrari 85%. However, McLaren’s poor start to the season places them in a different position. Being sixth in the constructors’ championship at the cut-off, McLaren is granted 95% of the allowed allocation. When considering the penalty imposed on Red Bull for breaching the cost cap last year, they face an additional 10% reduction in running.
Christian Horner highlighted the substantial discrepancies resulting from these combined factors. He explained, “Until October this year, we have the [cost cap] penalty, which significantly reduces the number of runs we can do per week compared to second and third place.” The disparity becomes even more pronounced when comparing Red Bull to teams ranked fourth or fifth. The difference in wind tunnel testing capabilities between McLaren and Red Bull is enormous. Consequently, Red Bull must exercise extreme caution and selectivity in their testing regime. Despite these challenges, the engineering team in Milton Keynes is commended for their exceptional work in efficiently developing the car.
Looking ahead to 2024, Horner revealed that any further updates to the car would be specific to certain circuits, potentially focusing on low-drag items for races such as Spa and Monza. He clarified, “We will introduce a few circuit-specific components, but they will not be new developments. These items are already part of our research and development plan.”
In summary, Red Bull’s record-breaking success in Formula 1 has positioned them as the first team to achieve 12 consecutive wins. However, their limited wind tunnel time compared to competitors poses significant challenges and necessitates a strategic approach to development. Despite these obstacles, Red Bull remains committed to optimizing their performance through circuit-specific updates, ensuring their continued competitiveness in the world of Formula 1
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