AR3-GP wrote: ↑11 Sep 2024, 00:34
It's how Mercedes failed with the W13.
In my opinion, this was the difference between Newey and Wache leadership. Wache must have thought everything is so simple and that he could replace Newey with a systematic simulation led approach. Put all the ideas into the blender and let the simulations and tools decide for you...The tools and simulations told them to do shark mouths and concepts inspired by other cars (W13), but these concepts already failed on other cars (stiff suspension, low ground clearance, shrunken side pods, canon rear engine cover, were all failures of the W13). They must have thought their simulations and tools would lead them away from the mistakes that Mercedes made with these concepts, but it turns out to not be too different to how the W13 turned out. Peaky car with tiny operating window that was struck once in a blue moon.
You need more than tools and simulations. Simulations can make you think something is a good idea, but intuition can make you think twice. Newey had intuition which they lack now. Mclaren shows that it is possible to work without Newey, so Red Bull will have to find their own way.
But the car was class of the field until Miami and Imola. What can possibly be so wrong with its concept if it had such a mega start over the field?
I simply have to weigh in on that McLaren comment, they are absolutely not the first team to show you can succeed without Newey (and without massive PU advantage). Not in this reg cycle, not in the cycle before, not in any cycle in the last 30+ years. With that in mind, I'd be stunned if Horner never understood that his friend will eventually walk away and the team needs to move on. I'm sure he also understood any PU other than your own is ultimately out of your control. If RBR can only succeed with Newey and relying on external PU supplier and their own agenda, the team without results will become a burden for Red Bull brand (in post-DM era) and will either dissolve or be sold out. I'm sure Marko has the same personal opinion