How does the DRS effect give Red Bull a “stunning” top speed?
Already observed in Bahrain and Jeddah, the Australian Grand Prix only confirmed the breathtaking top speed of the RB19. A straight-line performance that the Red Bull owes in part to its particularly advanced DRS.
Following the Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, could only underline the ease with which Max Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton on the eleventh lap, as he had done in Saudi Arabia, where he was unable to prevent the Dutch driver from overtaking.
” With the rear wing closed, we were able to keep up with him,” the Austrian stated. ” But when they use the DRS, their top speed is astonishing.”
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A highly effective DRS
The aerodynamic performance of Red Bull’s RB19 is impressive, especially thanks to the suction generated under its floor, which allows the team to have a greater margin for maneuvering than other teams to adjust its rear wing.
Compared to the competition, Red Bull’s beam wing is more aggressive and straight, which has an impact on the diffuser and the upper wing. When the upper wing opens in DRS mode and the air passes in front of the car, the beam wing loses aerodynamics.
However, Red Bull has managed to deal with this problem by minimizing the drag generated by the beam wing when the DRS is activated, giving them an advantage over the other teams.
