In spite of the challenges faced by Mercedes with the idea, Red Bull seems to have successfully integrated it into their new design. Toto Wolff has downplayed the significance of Mercedes abandoning their unique ‘no sidepods’ car design from the previous season, especially considering that Red Bull has adopted a somewhat similar design for their 2024 vehicle. “There are a few elements they borrowed from our car,” the Mercedes team principal confessed to Austrian broadcaster ORF. “Not just the sidepods, but also our engine cover – which we referred to as ‘The Great Wall’ at the time. It may not be visually pleasing, but the solution is logical,” Wolff explained. Despite Mercedes’ struggles with the concept, Red Bull appears to have seamlessly incorporated it into their new design.
Wolff emphasized that the true performance comes from the floor. “These cars rely on ground effect, and Red Bull has excelled in that area in recent years. There have likely been further advancements in that domain,” he stated. “I just didn’t anticipate such a drastic change in the bodywork. It was a bold move because if they had played it safe, they would have continued developing a truly exceptional car. The data always guides your progress, and the data must have shown that these new developments offer significantly more downforce. Otherwise, Red Bull wouldn’t have pursued it,” Wolff asserted. Ivan Capelli, a former Formula 1 driver, commended Adrian Newey’s innovative approach to the 2024 Red Bull design. “Newey has completely revolutionized Red Bull, surprising everyone,” he shared with Sky Italia. “He has suddenly made all the other cars appear outdated.”
With Max Verstappen leading the charge, Red Bull is poised to maintain their dominance in Formula 1, starting with the upcoming race in Bahrain. “He serves as an example for every driver,” Capelli observed. “Last year, he only made one mistake, which was a spin during practice in the United States. That demonstrates the high standards he has set, similar to what Senna and Schumacher did in their time. It’s nearly impossible for him to lose that level of performance now.” Fernando #Alonso acknowledges #Mercedes’ interest in him replacing Lewis Hamilton.
Regarding Mercedes’ 2024 contender, which closely resembles Red Bull’s previous designs, it seems to slightly trail behind the new Ferrari model. “Ferrari has taken a significant step forward,” former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde commented on the DRS De Race Show podcast. “They experienced minimal tire degradation during testing, after struggling with that issue last year. Max will win the race, but I anticipate an exciting battle between Ferrari and (Sergio) Perez for the remaining positions.”