RB4

[Principessa]

The RB4 is here http://www.f1technical.net/news/8007

More news, pics and dev blogs to follow as soon as possible.

[timbo]

I hardly see any change. However, I think it was Newey's strong point - having a concept and then refining it to the optimum. Probably they spent much time developing mechanical parts for reliability as it was their apparent weakness at 2007.

[Sawtooth-spike]

Hummm, There are a few changes but nothing like BMW's or Toyotas. I hope there efforts have gone into making a car that makes it to the end of the race.

I have to say, this time last year there were saying "just wait till the RB4", We waited and now i am disapointed.

[vyselegend]

It looks like a RB3... I'm disapointed.

[Sawtooth-spike]

the more i look at it the more underwelming it is. Guess they must of done something.

[Principessa]

The team has tried to work on the reliability going out from the design of the car. At least, that's what Willis said. So on that point, there must have changed a lot. Although it indeed seems like the outside hasn't changed much...I still think that the car looks fast. Might sound lame, I know

[manchild]

Mclaren mp4/21 and Mclaren mp4/22 look almost identical - mp4/21 didn't win a single race, mp4/22 won 8! mp4/21 had great chassis, aero and transmission but the engine sucked. So the car had to wait until that was sorted out.

Not even the mp4/22 is anything that could be called a radical step forward.

RB3 had great chassis, aero, suspension, engine but the transmission sucked. Just wait and see...

[scarbs]

in fact I would say the MP4-22 was a big step from its predessor, most of the industry did too.

The RB4 is at first disappointing but it is the same concepT then when you look closer....

New stuff
High expansion diffuser with wide supplementary channels above normal diffuser
Revised rear susp with exposed damper heads on test car (may be Multimatic rotary dampers)
Rear lower wishbone passes through extra diffuser channel
Long vertical splitter “dolphin” above the shadow plate
less fuel tank forming the engine cover, mid wing now mounts to engine cover
Different shape ahead of cockpit, blended further forward into monocoque
Mirrors on swept forward stalks (again...!)

Old stuff
Late 07 season three element McLaren-like front wing with bridge element,
Old rear wing, chimneys\T wings, bargeboards, engine cover spine and shelf wing

No word on the wheelbase or layout,I have a contact at the launch who will try to ask....

[bizadfar]

Mclaren mp4/21 and Mclaren mp4/22 look almost identical - mp4/21 didn't win a single race, mp4/22 won 8! mp4/21 had great chassis, aero and transmission but the engine sucked. So the car had to wait until that was sorted out.

Not even the mp4/22 is anything that could be called a radical step forward.

RB3 had great chassis, aero, suspension, engine but the transmission sucked. Just wait and see...

The engine was actually good. It sucked in early races like some other teams. I believe they couldn't get the best out of the michelins and aero was not innovative at all. Veyr much a stand still car from 2005.

I can see the RB4 has little wing elements similar to Ferrari.

[modbaraban]

No revelations. But they did say this long ago that the RB4 goal should be reliability (so no revolutions).

Not mentioned:

- longer podvanes
- siemens logo

[mx_tifoso]

The team has tried to work on the reliability going out from the design of the car. At least, that's what Willis said. So on that point, there must have changed a lot.

Improving reliability levels is probably the best step RBR could have taken, because there would most likely be no advancement with a revolutionary car that was still unreliable. And even though they would be among the five or so fastest on the grid, many points would be lost by both drivers due to an unreliable package. And ultimately, its the total amount of points earned throughout the season that really matters.

Providing that Williams and Toyota have improved a considerable amount, RBR's position in the championship could very well be under jeopardy, if reliablility doesn't get better.

RBR managed to earn fifth place in the '07 CC, and thats with an unreliable package, which aided in providing them fourteen DNF's total(seven by each driver).*

*Wikipedia- Red Bull Racing

[MrT]

I always remember hearing a quote of Adrian Neweys, "I's far easier to make a quick car reliable, than a reliable car quick"... I belive this may well be the case with the RB3/4, the RB3 showed promising speed at points I would have thought that this car will be more of a step than it appears to be... guess time will tell.

[Giblet]

I have to wonder if Newey's pen and paper approach to concept and design will still be viable these days.

I'd like to see RB go quick and finish races. Mak Webah has had so much unreliablility and bad luck he deserves a good car that he can take home. He was going for podium last year when Vettel hit him wasn't he?

[ginsu]

The wheels look like they've been significantly lightened from last years launch wheels. The webbing towards the center of the wheel definitely has less material. Although, I just noticed that they changed manufacture to O.Z. too.

New.



Old.

[ginsu]

scarbs is definitely right, it looks like they're using rotary dampers on the
rear suspension.

The brake duct looks interesting too, with an exit port it looks like.

still looks a bit messy compared to some other teams, especially with the exposed drive shaft. i don't think it's faired in behind it either.

just noticed that interesting little notch in the upper plane of the rear wing. kinda makes it look like a whale tail. hmmm.