The Chinese Grand Prix will witness the debut of ground-effect Formula 1 cars, marking the return of the race after a five-year hiatus. Red Bull, under the leadership of its team principal, has been the dominant force in the sport since the introduction of ground effect technology. Out of the four races held this season, the team from Milton Keynes has emerged victorious in three, with the exception of one race. Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed as one of their drivers faced early retirement due to tire degradation issues in Melbourne. The team is now eager to avoid a similar situation in the upcoming race.
The team principal had previously expressed his concerns about the challenges that the Chinese Grand Prix would present to his team. Reflecting on the previous race in Melbourne, he emphasized the need to avoid any surprises in Shanghai. Despite the team’s expertise in managing tire degradation, they were caught off guard in the previous race. Nonetheless, they are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead and have learned from their experiences in Australia.
The Chinese Grand Prix will mark the return of ground-effect era cars to the circuit after a five-year absence. This poses a new challenge for Red Bull and the rest of the grid. However, the team from Milton Keynes is confident in their preparations for the race, having analyzed and improved upon their performance in the previous weekend.
The RB20, Red Bull’s latest car, incorporates key elements from its predecessors while also introducing various aerodynamic and other changes. The team’s aerodynamic expert explained the development process behind the RB20, highlighting the continuity of their aerodynamic principles since early 2022. However, the RB20 is a more extreme version of its predecessors, showcasing the team’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance. The team’s engineers have worked tirelessly to make the car more competitive.
While Red Bull may have an early advantage with their dominant RB20, Ferrari is steadily closing in on them. As the reigning world champions, Red Bull aims to solidify their lead in the standings with a comfortable victory in Shanghai.