And while that may have been disappointing from a tech perspective, it has at least given us some time to dig a bit deeper into a lot of the ideas that were hidden away in early running.
Here we take a look at some of the most interesting aspects of what we saw from F1’s season-opener.
Red Bull Racing RB20 front wing flap adjustment and nose tip comparison
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
The changes that Red Bull made to its sidepod and engine cover bodywork for 2024 have grabbed a lot of attention, as the team has redefined the design of this region.
However, before we get to those changes, we need to take a look at some of the other ways the RB20 has evolved when compared to its predecessor.
We start that journey at the front of the car, with a couple of meaningful changes, one of which is to the length of the nosecone, as the tip now sits further forward on the mainplane, rather than on the secondary element (inset, lower right).
Meanwhile, Red Bull has also moved the front wing’s flap adjuster from the outboard position that was favoured in 2023 and placed it at the inboard end of the moveable flap section (red arrows).
The location of the adjuster has likely been moved for aerodynamic purposes, with its presence in the outer section of the wing less than ideal in terms of helping to shape the outwash being generated.
Red Bull Racing RB20 chassis section comparison
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Next up we can compare the bulkhead of the RB20’s chassis with its two predecessors, as the team continues to carve out additional space on the lower corners of the monocoque to fulfil its aerodynamic desires.
The red arrows on each illustration show how much deeper the V-shaped profile has become throughout the last three seasons. Other packaging alterations have been made too.
Notably, the two lower mounting pins for the nose have been relocated below the steering assembly, whilst the brake reservoir is now more of a conventional cylindrical shape, rather than the flattened tray that preceded it.
Red Bull Racing RB20 inlet
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Returning to the RB20’s cooling layout, it is probably important to mention that the only comparison that can be drawn with Mercedes’ zeropod layout is the vertical inlet beside the chassis.
The design was never going to be a zeropod solution either, even if many thought Red Bull might try to shrink the sidepods in that way.
The reason for that is exactly why Mercedes failed to…
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