Red Bull has fast-tracked a substantial update for Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix, with changes moving it away from the Mercedes-style engine cover gulleys it has raced so far.
The new parts are wide-ranging, with the most visual aspect – a new engine cover and sidepod layout – only being run on Max Verstappen’s car this weekend.
The changes appear to be a mix of circuit-specific modifications, because of the high-downforce hot conditions expected at the Hungaroring, and longer-term developments including a new floor and other aerodynamic components.
The new layout does away with the high-haunched engine cover design the team adopted for 2024, which took inspiration from the Mercedes-style engine cover gulleys the German manufacturer previously raced with.
Watch: View from the Paddock – F1 News – Hungarian Grand Prix Thursday
It instead returns to a more familiar sharp drop-off from the back of the halo fairing, which results in a more shrink-wrapped layout around the midriff before flaring out once again at the rear cooling outlet.
The team has listed the new engine cover and sidepod layout as ‘circuit-specific’ within the FIA’s car presentation document, with some of these items expected to offer an uplift in performance at low-speed, high-downforce venues.
This means it is possible that the team could shift around with its choice of configuration over the remainder of 2024 depending on the layout it encounters each weekend – so it is not necessarily the end of the Mercedes gulleys.
Red Bull is certainly hopeful that what it has brought this weekend is something that it can have on tap from here on in when needed.
Chief engineer Paul Monaghan said: “It’s linked to temperature and the track nature. So we’ll see how it pans out here, won’t we?
“If the lap times are poor in relative terms, we’ll have to consider. But our belief is we’re going forward with this, and thanks for everyone in the factory who has done a stunning job, as we’ve got it here earlier than we expected.”
Red Bull Racing RB20 technical detail
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Red Bull Racing RB20 technical detail
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
The main rear cooling outlet is also supplemented by flared openings in the engine cover just ahead of this.
The topographical changes to the bodywork in the midriff region are made possible by alterations done internally that also include the removal of the halo inlet scoop.
As part of this…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Motorsport.com – Formula 1 – Stories…