Red Bull has revealed a package of updates designed to further improve the performance of their all-conquering RB19.
The team which has won every race so far this year has introduced an eye-catching revision to its car’s sidepods as well as changes to its brake ducts and engine cover. The car’s floor, which was closely scrutinised by rivals when pictures of it emerged at the Monaco Grand Prix, has also been updated.The most notable change to the RB19 this weekend is its sidepods. The lip protruding in front of them now slopes downwards to the entry, which also appears shorter. Red Bull say this change has been made to improve cooling by changing the air pressure going into the radiator duct contained within the sidepod.
The changes to the sidepod inlets have led the team to alter the bodywork extending from this part of the car to the rear. The sidepod has been made wider to harness the benefits from the changes to the airflow. Red Bull say it “utilises the greater inlet pressure to exploit the inlet improvements” and alters the exit path of the air at the rear of the car.
The revisions to the floor have also come about as a result of the sidepod alterations. Red Bull describe the alterations to the edge of the floor as “subtle”, but believe it has “extracted some more local load.” That will be a timely gain at a track like the Hungaroring, which places a high demand on aerodynamic downforce.
The team has also revised its brake ducts for the specific demands of the Hungarian circuit. The front and rear ducts have been enlarged to improve cooling. At the rear, additional winglets have been introduced to wring a little more downforce out of the car which has set an unapproachable standard so far in 2023.
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Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
21st July 2023, 11:18
Hopefully this upgrade will be a disaster, and ruin the balance of the car completely!
Mach1 (@mach1)
21st July 2023, 11:35
The inlet is so small and slim it could be even called a horizontal zero pod.
Erkii
21st July 2023, 11:37
Bit odd to create lift by shaping this inletbase like a wing. Ok the air is sped-up for cooling, but still…
pastaman
21st July 2023, 15:39
Attack angle is more important than shape, I’m sure they know what they are doing
Robert
21st July 2023, 19:19
Many parts of the car creates local lift, but it’s all about preparing the air for further downstream. By generating a little lift in one place they will gain downforce and/or reduce drag somewhere else.
OOliver
21st July 2023, 12:45
What Redbull is doing with thier sidepod is what I exected Mercedes to be able to easily achieve with their ultra – efficient heat exhanger they introduced in 2021. Instead they came up with cephalopod.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
21st July 2023, 15:58
If Charles Leclerc’s brother makes it to F1, will he have arthropods?
Billy (@roobyroo)
21st July 2023, 13:32
It’s potentially quite clever.
Whilst the inlet may look smaller from the front, by accelerating a lower volume of air into the inlet this could draw in additional that would normally pass over the inlet so any loss of cooling is negated.
Possibly the bigger benefit is that the leading edge of the inlet is now much higher so more air is passing down and around the sidepod.