How marginal gains made Red Bull’s RB19 so good

But while both cars missed out on clean sweeps by just one victory in their respective campaigns, what is perhaps most impressive is that Red Bull had to do that against the backdrop of 22 events rather than just 16. 

Rather than being an all-new design, the RB19 was an evolution of the RB18, because standing still in F1 is not an option. 

So, whilst the core DNA and design language of its predecessor were still clear to see, the RB19 needed to take another leap forward in order to stay one step ahead of its rivals, especially as many had already started to mimic some of its aerodynamic concepts. 

Red Bull clearly used the information gathered during the first season under the new regulations to make small gains that on their own seem relatively small. 

However, they added up to something much more significant as part of the collective, with several important alterations made to the car for 2023.  

The team clearly identified the position of the front axle to be one of those, as it not only has a bearing on the functionality of the suspension and an influence over the aerodynamics, but it also impacts tyre performance. 

The front axle line on the RB19 is a little further forward than its predecessor, altering not only how the front wing influences the wake generated by the front wheel assemblies but also the distance at which that wake travels before it reaches crucial surfaces, such as the floor and sidepods. 

You will also note the angle at which the upper wishbone on the RB19 resides (inset, highlighted in yellow), a design factor that many have attributed solely to the anti-dive characteristic, which will help stabilise the car’s platform and which is undoubtedly important with this generation of F1 car.  

However, it’s also important to consider the aerodynamic ramifications posed by the suspension fairings, with every team on the grid looking for ways to better utilise them, without compromising their kinematic performance. 

The sides of the RB18’s chassis were already tapered to help improve the airflow’s passage beneath the chassis, but the team moved to reduce the cross section in the lower half of the chassis even more for 2023.  

Comparably, the RB19’s chassis has more of a V-shaped profile, with the underside of the nose clearly altered to work in conjunction with this. 

Another…