Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, driving for Red Bull Racing, showcased his skills at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on March 7, 2024. The Formula 1 World Championship event marked the second round of the season.
Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer of Red Bull, has shed light on the team’s continued success by attributing it to subtle changes made to their RB20 Formula 1 car. Despite the introduction of new ground effect regulations, Red Bull has maintained its dominance, with Verstappen leading the team to consecutive 1-2 finishes in the opening races of the season.
When Red Bull unveiled their 2024 challenger, it caught attention due to noticeable alterations compared to their previous championship-winning car. The slim sidepod inlet, reminiscent of Mercedes’ abandoned ‘zeropod’ solution from the previous year, and the engine gulley inspired by the same marque were particularly striking. However, Newey believes that the true advantage lies in the minute details of the RB20 that have gone unnoticed by many.
Newey explained that the underlying architecture of the RB20 is a third-generation evolution of the RB18, with only the radiators being carried over. The layout of the front and rear suspension, the gearbox, and the casing have all undergone significant development. While the visible aerodynamic changes have garnered attention, Newey asserts that the performance gains from these alterations are smaller compared to the more subtle modifications that have gone unnoticed.
Red Bull came close to achieving a historic clean sweep in the previous season, but their hopes were dashed in Singapore when both RB19 cars failed to start inside the top 10. Verstappen identified slow-speed cornering as a weakness of the previous car, prompting Red Bull to strive for a more well-rounded package.
Newey highlighted their efforts to create a car that performs well on all types of circuits. While Red Bull had a clear advantage on most tracks last year, they struggled on high-downforce street circuits. Singapore, in particular, proved to be a challenging race for the team. However, Newey believes that as long as they can avoid disastrous performances on these types of tracks, they can still achieve satisfactory results.