Red Bull RB22

[Stu]

At this point in the new regulation car roll-out/shakedown/private test/whatever I would have thought that PU & cooling systems, operational parameters and systems checks would be far higher up the list of priorities than outright performance. It’s still January, Barcelona is cold (unrepresentative) so, ‘if’ they think that they ‘have something’, I would fully expect vanity panels (there is a line of fasteners visible). They did this exact thing before in 2022.

[mzso]

https://i.postimg.cc/cLRBnMp8/IMG-20260126-131439.jpg

It's a zero pod done right!

I mean zero pod was not compatible with Ground effect floors but it might be a silver bullet in these regs!

Or maybe it will be just as big of a blunder.

[vas_04614]

https://i.postimg.cc/PJLyz7L0/image.png

Why does sidepod have handle?

[TNTHead]

https://x.com/FM1_3316/status/201590629 ... 84/photo/1

[sucof]

https://i.postimg.cc/PJLyz7L0/image.png

Why does sidepod have handle?

Its not a handle. Cars has to have by regulation, side impact crash structure. All cars have these to protect the driver. But some teams put it elsewhere to integrate in to the sidepod and you can not see them. Some team leave them sticking out.

[mzso]

Quite frankly I don't believe Mercedes has the chutzpah to pursue the zeropod again at the start of a new regulation, they've were burned too badly last time. The rest of the teams I don't think could pull it off.

You don't think McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari have enough engineering capacity to design a "zero pod" car?

[sucof]

Quite frankly I don't believe Mercedes has the chutzpah to pursue the zeropod again at the start of a new regulation, they've were burned too badly last time. The rest of the teams I don't think could pull it off.

You don't think McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari have enough engineering capacity to design a "zero pod" car?

If the engineering choices at any team driven by emotions from the past, that team is lost already.
I presume all the teams did some CFD with all sorts of sidepod versions to pick the directions they will go.

[Badger]

Quite frankly I don't believe Mercedes has the chutzpah to pursue the zeropod again at the start of a new regulation, they've were burned too badly last time. The rest of the teams I don't think could pull it off.

You don't think McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari have enough engineering capacity to design a "zero pod" car?

Ferrari have the resources but have not been the most radical on packaging (in recent times). McLaren and Aston no, I think such a solution requires total control and integration of the PU and chassis. But maybe they'll prove me wrong.

Though I wouldn't call RB22 a "zeropod" now that we've seen the pictures up closer, it's not quite that radical. The solution RB has would be possible for several teams in time, but to pull it off out of the gates in a total rules reset is impressive.

[michl420]

Are those halo inlets or shadows? I can't detect it in other photos.

It’s a shadow I’m pretty sure. Too small to be inlets and it’s not visible in the other frontal shots.

Plus I’m pretty sure legality would have something to say about making an inlet out of the headrest.

If they are not inlets, where does the air enter from, to exit the 'optional' exit just under the 'ROKT' sticker, near to where the halo ends ?

The air come from the "main" cooler in the sidepods.

[venkyhere]

It’s a shadow I’m pretty sure. Too small to be inlets and it’s not visible in the other frontal shots.

Plus I’m pretty sure legality would have something to say about making an inlet out of the headrest.

If they are not inlets, where does the air enter from, to exit the 'optional' exit just under the 'ROKT' sticker, near to where the halo ends ?

The air come from the "main" cooler in the sidepods.

not impossible, but it would mean that the 'air-path' has to make many 'bends' to move-up-and-back through some sort of heat exchanger, and then make a 'cannon-exit' underneath the ROKT sticker. I would say, unlikely.

[PlatinumZealot]

What other head-on rb22 shots do you have with enough detail to see a feature like this?


This image shows another point. A startling lack of undercut. Pretty much the only undercut present is the inlet scoop lower lip.
https://i.ibb.co/Xf5GjNJ0/20260126-192901.jpg

I think these are vanity side pods. I'm betting that the undercut will be revealed soon.

I also believe the Mercedes has a "fake" side pod.

What is the priority ?
playing 'hide-n-seek' with other teams and keeping all cards close to the chest so that others can't 'produce a copy' before mid-season summer break
v/s
collecting real data with the 'real car' for their own benefit in an ultra-comprehensive regulation change ?

They are not close to collecting performance data yet.

[pronopheus]

Quite frankly I don't believe Mercedes has the chutzpah to pursue the zeropod again at the start of a new regulation, they've were burned too badly last time. The rest of the teams I don't think could pull it off.

You don't think McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari have enough engineering capacity to design a "zero pod" car?

Ferrari have the resources but have not been the most radical on packaging (in recent times). McLaren and Aston no, I think such a solution requires total control and integration of the PU and chassis. But maybe they'll prove me wrong.

Though I wouldn't call RB22 a "zeropod" now that we've seen the pictures up closer, it's not quite that radical. The solution RB has would be possible for several teams in time, but to pull it off out of the gates in a total rules reset is impressive.

Sorry, but Mclaren no? I think, that is quiet some bs. Mclaren was the team, who had the best cooling solution last season.

[michl420]

If they are not inlets, where does the air enter from, to exit the 'optional' exit just under the 'ROKT' sticker, near to where the halo ends ?

The air come from the "main" cooler in the sidepods.

not impossible, but it would mean that the 'air-path' has to make many 'bends' to move-up-and-back through some sort of heat exchanger, and then make a 'cannon-exit' underneath the ROKT sticker. I would say, unlikely.

Look at some photos where the bodywork is removed. The cooler sits directly vertical under it or even in front of it. In 2021 every car had exits there.

[FW17]

The air come from the "main" cooler in the sidepods.

not impossible, but it would mean that the 'air-path' has to make many 'bends' to move-up-and-back through some sort of heat exchanger, and then make a 'cannon-exit' underneath the ROKT sticker. I would say, unlikely.

Look at some photos where the bodywork is removed. The cooler sits directly vertical under it or even in front of it. In 2021 every car had exits there.

[Badger]