Red Bull Racing RB18 detail
Photo by: Uncredited
Red Bull’s unique sidepod inlet design with an open top and large undercut undoubtedly has significant cooling and aerodynamic advantages. Also, note the detail in the mirror and stalk design, as both carefully dictate the airflow’s trajectory. Special mention to the L-shaped buttress near the cockpit, which has an overlapping endplate that will doubtlessly propagate a useful vortex structure.
Red Bull Racing RB18 detail
Photo by: Uncredited
The floor on Max Verstappen’s RB18 doesn’t feature the cutout that his teammate’s does but does have a tapered edge ahead of the rear tyre and a metal stay to help reduce flex.
Red Bull Racing RB18 detail
Photo by: Uncredited
A closeup of the front section of the floor on the RB18 beneath the sidepod undercut, note the teardrop-shaped blister which helps define the airflow’s passage. Meanwhile, on the edge of the floor there are numerous Gurney-like extensions.
Red Bull Racing RB18 rear detail
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Red Bull, unlike the rest of the field, does not have a Monza one-off low downforce rear wing design, as it have simply opted for the smallest offering seen to date. While it’s not shown here, it also has a trimmed version, with the trailing edge of the upper flap cut back to reduce drag.
Red Bull Racing RB18 detail
Photo by: Uncredited
Another closeup of the mirror assembly on the Red Bull RB18, this one giving a clearer indication of the aerodynamic surfaces that flank the main mirror body for flow conditioning purposes.
Red Bull Racing RB18 nose detail
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In this closeup of the RB18’s nose we not only see the driver cooling hole placed in the tip, it’s also worth noting the way in which the front wing support brackets have been inserted into the flaps and orientated in a manner that’s conducive to dictating the airflow’s direction.
McLaren MCL36 detail
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A closeup of the McLaren MCL36’s floor edge, showing the cutout, lifted rear section of floor and the L-shaped edge wing, for which the metal support brackets are also angled to improve flow conditions.
McLaren MCL36 detail
Photo by: Uncredited
McLaren’s rear view mirror sits out on the shoulder of the sidepod and is surrounded by the mirror stay which is shaped to improve the airflow’s behaviour around the assembly.
McLaren MCL36 detail
Photo by: Uncredited
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