Red Bull pace "loss"
Discussion
Just watching the onboards, it really, really, really looks like the Red Bull has lost something. Last year the onboards the car was on rails, Max could throw it into a corner and away it went. Absolutely awesome to see.
But the onboard of Max today in Spa, he is having to correct and fight the car.
But the onboard of Max today in Spa, he is having to correct and fight the car.
lambosagogo said:
But not from the first half a dozen or races this season where Max at least was able to build or close a gap at will.
Others introduced pretty big upgrades whilst (for Mclaren and Ferrari in any case) sticking with the concept they had from last year. Merc found something very recently and allegedly have a trick 3rd damper setup or whatever now since a few races that has certainly worked them well.
Rest of the season looking very interesting indeed. 4 teams in a proper close fight not really knowing who can win what.
Bas Jaski said:
The car is completely different from last year, whole concept changed.
This makes no sense though does it, because if you make a concept change and it is wrong you go back to the one that gave you a half a second a lap advantage. Plus the first few races onboards with Max the car was still just sailing through the laps. Something has changed.
Something changed at or around Miami, which was when Newey announced his departure from the team.
I still wonder if they were told to take something off the car, it’s unprecedented for a car to lose so much pace almost overnight.
With McLaren and Mercedes now both very much on the pace, we’re looking at a three way fight for the constructors’ championship, something none of us would have predicted a couple of months ago.
I still wonder if they were told to take something off the car, it’s unprecedented for a car to lose so much pace almost overnight.
With McLaren and Mercedes now both very much on the pace, we’re looking at a three way fight for the constructors’ championship, something none of us would have predicted a couple of months ago.
ghost83 said:
It was since newey quit the car just hasn’t had the outright pace
Yeah but that makes no sense to me either as the car was designed and built and ready to race at the start of the season..... It is the onboards that makes it looks like something has changed, certainly from last season and also the start of this season - 5 wins out of the first seven races and it looked pretty well balanced. But today the onboard in dirty air it seemed all over the show.
Jasandjules said:
Bas Jaski said:
The car is completely different from last year, whole concept changed.
This makes no sense though does it, because if you make a concept change and it is wrong you go back to the one that gave you a half a second a lap advantage. Plus the first few races onboards with Max the car was still just sailing through the laps. Something has changed.
Red Bull therefore have to try harder, hence the car being more on the edge.
If they reverted to the old concept, I suspect they’d be slower, comparatively to the others.
Muzzer79 said:
It’s not just Red Bull’s development. The other key factor is that McLaren and Mercedes have got their act together and are faster.
Red Bull therefore have to try harder, hence the car being more on the edge.
If they reverted to the old concept, I suspect they’d be slower, comparatively to the others.
Can’t remember where’d I’d read, but part of the reason Newey chose to leave was because they went with Wache’s design over the winter and didn’t listen to his direction. He wanted out then and there, so expect it’s been ok at the beginning of the year, but possibly not get development direction in it where all the other teams have made good strides. Red Bull therefore have to try harder, hence the car being more on the edge.
If they reverted to the old concept, I suspect they’d be slower, comparatively to the others.
Jasandjules said:
This makes no sense though does it, because if you make a concept change and it is wrong you go back to the one that gave you a half a second a lap advantage.
Plus the first few races onboards with Max the car was still just sailing through the laps. Something has changed.
Going back to the RB19 will mean they'll be behind the current car as the RB19 has not been developed at all. The RB19 reached close to its development ceiling already, which is what they kept saying last year hence change of concept...Plus the first few races onboards with Max the car was still just sailing through the laps. Something has changed.
Teatowell said:
Can’t remember where’d I’d read, but part of the reason Newey chose to leave was because they went with Wache’s design over the winter and didn’t listen to his direction. He wanted out then and there, so expect it’s been ok at the beginning of the year, but possibly not get development direction in it where all the other teams have made good strides.
This makes far more sense than the hilarious idea that Newey told them to take something off the car when he left.I can't even give any credibility to the loons who think the FIA is somehow forcing RB to be slower 'for the spectacle'.
White-Noise said:
Maybe after a certain point rb have put more focus into next year's car, or hell even post summer break car. They need to win but not by such a margin so perhaps there is a bigger eye on 2026 too. I don't know... just ideas but they have fallen back relatively speaking.
This seems by far the most likely explanation. After winning 5 of the first 7 races RB may have decided that both championships were in the bag therefore they could turn their effort towards developing next year’s car & 2026’s new car. They were probably right about the drivers’ championship. Nobody is going to overtake Max. But Perez’s incompetence could come back to bite them. And they would have nobody to blame but themselves. 
Bradgate said:
White-Noise said:
Maybe after a certain point rb have put more focus into next year's car, or hell even post summer break car. They need to win but not by such a margin so perhaps there is a bigger eye on 2026 too. I don't know... just ideas but they have fallen back relatively speaking.
This seems by far the most likely explanation. After winning 5 of the first 7 races RB may have decided that both championships were in the bag therefore they could turn their effort towards developing next year’s car & 2026’s new car. They were probably right about the drivers’ championship. Nobody is going to overtake Max. But Perez’s incompetence could come back to bite them. And they would have nobody to blame but themselves. Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff