"The Milton Keynes-based team devoted several runs to visual examination with flow viz to check fluid detachment zones and to be able to observe the actual course of the flow lines. The goal was to test the correlation between CFD, which is the first step of design, the wind tunnel, which is the second step of verification, and then the track, which provides the most important response. Photos of the flow lines, highlighted by kerosene, will then be compared with the same data obtained by the other two methods. A good correlation occurs if the error between these data is small enough.
On the second day of testing, when the temperatures were quite mild, Max Verstappen confirmed what had been said, but without going into too much detail. The Dutchman made it clear how a step forward has been taken in terms of the predictability of the car. Last year's problems seem to have been largely solved, so we should no longer see a single-seater with the front axle disconnected from the rear axle, the main headache that led the car to poor response on track interventions. At the moment the Red Bull RB21 complies properly with the various setup changes.
On the last day of practice in Sakhir, we noticed some changes to the Austrian car. Provision anticipated by our editorial staff when the team presented the car with in render. These include the new nosecone tip, which appears detached from the main wing element. An update to increase the flow of fluid mass inside the nose pylons. Increase in cross section that increases the flows with which the bottom works. The characteristic hole on the tip remains but changes shape, useful for relieving pressure, where flow velocity tends to zero being a stagnation point.
The up-date was introduced to speed up the learning process and see if the path taken is correct. As far as we understand, however, the novelty did not make the expected difference. And that is precisely why, that the former F1 world champion team is trying to anticipate other upgrades already planned, so that they can have them available in the first Grand Prix of the season. On the other hand, yesterday, the front end stopped working completely, bringing to light another layer of problems they had not yet encountered. A very strong lack of rotation, so much so that Verstappen, on many occasions, lost the apex of several meters in Turn 13.
Verstappen was quite nervous about this headache, although over the course of the session the technicians headed by Pierre Waché took care of the problem. Horner said the difficulties suffered were part of the work program. For that reason he was not very concerned.
Red Bull has also been working on the ground clearance, front and rear, and contextually on the stiffness of the RB21, starting as always with the mere adjustment of the bars at the rear end. During F1 testing with a new design in their hands, they try to carry out as many tests as possible on the single-seater, so that defining the tuning window is rather smooth. The car seems to have made a step forward, although they have not yet been able, somewhat like Ferrari, to center the setup."
Source: https://www.funoanalisitecnica.com/2025 ... pdate.html
Well, it correlates with what Pierre Waché said. Red Bull has made a step forward, but the step is not as big as they had anticipated. They still have time to solve the problems before Melbourne. I don't think it looks that bad, the point is that there has been progress, I wouldn't write off Red Bull just yet.
- Login or Register
No account yet? Sign up