The aerodynamic advantage of Red Bull could turn into a reliability problem
Three victories in three races: Red Bull dominates but may not be as serene as one might think. Several times, its drivers have complained about problems with smooth gear changes. This issue could have an impact on the rest of the season if it is not resolved.
While we were trying to explain the “mind-blowing” speed, with the DRS, of the RB19, the Austrian team, which dominates the beginning of this season with three wins in as many races, could potentially encounter a problem stemming from one of these strong points.
An AMR23 and an RB19 not so similar
If many competitors have highlighted the great resemblance between Aston Martin’s race car and Red Bull’s, one can observe that underneath the bodywork they differ quite significantly.
During the Australian Grand Prix, a crucial difference was noticed between the floors of the RB19 and the AMR23. Upon examining the top surface of this part, it is evident that the gearbox casing is one of the key mechanical components concealed beneath this part.
A direct comparison between the gearbox casing of the two cars reveals that Red Bull’s is nearly two times smaller than Aston Martin’s.
It is important to note that on Lawrence Stroll’s team side, they have certain components, including the gearbox and rear suspension, supplied by Mercedes, which makes the rear volumes of the W14 and the AMR23 identical.
Returning to the RB19 gearbox section, it is also striking to note that its casing, at the bottom of the car, is lower than that of the AMR23. This suggests that the design of the lower part of the energy drink’s gearbox has been optimized to minimize interference with the diffuser channels, allowing Red Bull to widen them and increase their efficiency.
First Alert in Jeddah
The narrow vise grip of the single-seater, designed by engineer Adrian Newey and technical director Pierre Waché, was achieved without any compromise on aerodynamics. The priority was to generate maximum vertical downforce from the floor to ensure the best performance in fast turns.
However, while the British designer had already said after Bahrain that Red Bull was not unbeatable this season, the narrow design could have consequences in the upcoming races, as evidenced by the problems encountered by Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in Saudi Arabia. Both drivers had to replace their gearbox as a precaution.
Several times this season, we have been able to hear the current double world champion complaining about the smoothness of downshifting, whether it be during practice sessions or in races.
These sensations do not necessarily translate into later issues, but it appears that the minimal size of the internal components of the gearbox and O-rings may lead to increased tension and wear.
Reliability issues to come?
Having, for the moment, not faced any real challenge at the beginning of the season, Red Bull even being able to ask its drivers to slow down in Jeddah, it could nevertheless be possible that this potential weakness could have consequences in the future if it were to persist.
In parallel, the competition continues to work tirelessly to close the gap on the Austrians, and it will be interesting to see how the Milton Keynes car reacts, especially if it needs to push the limits of its components. It remains to be seen whether this will have a minimal impact or not.
