Red Bull faced several challenges during the qualifying session of the Australian Grand Prix, but Max Verstappen ultimately secured pole position for the race. Despite his success, Verstappen struggled with understeer during his first run in Q3. Still, he managed to recover on his second Q3 run and secure pole.
Teammate Sergio Perez was not as fortunate, facing mechanical problems that eliminated him during Q1. Moreover, Red Bull’s underlying advantage was reduced during the qualifying session. The cool weather and track resurfacing presented a challenge for the tires, making it difficult for teams to warm them up.
DRS Zones Pose Challenge for Red Bull in Australian Grand Prix
The Red Bull RB19 car has an advantage in the four DRS zones on the track, but the complex tire situation made it harder to take advantage of this benefit. Red Bull initially chose the fast-cool-fast sequence for tire use, while Mercedes selected the build lap followed by a single push lap method.
Mercedes may have exploited more of its car’s limited performance by using the lower maintenance tire run method. The track’s tire situation was a critical factor in determining all teams’ performance during the session.
Red Bull Successfully Utilizes DRS in Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
In contrast to their challenges in Australia, Red Bull’s successful use of the DRS helped them win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton was surprised by the RB19’s efficient straight-line speed as Max Verstappen passed him with a 3334km/h speed advantage.
Red Bull’s design is based on efficient aerodynamics rather than tactics. Details of their rear wing design contribute to efficient airflow, reducing vortices and drag. The RB19’s beam wing design relies on airflow generated by the upper wing with the DRS closed to keep flow attached to the beam wing.
Red Bull analyzed F1 regulations and compiled data to optimize their DRS use, leading to greater efficiencies. Red Bull’s success with DRS is a result of a well-connected aerodynamic design rather than any particular tactic.
Budget Cap Penalty May Impact Red Bull’s Championship Lead
Currently, the strongest team of this season, Red Bull, has a 49 point lead over Aston Martin in the championship standings. However, they may face challenges due to their budget cap penalty for breaching cost caps in 2021. The penalty will reduce their aerodynamic test restrictions by an additional 10%.
Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson believes this may level the playing field for Aston Martin to close the gap between them and Red Bull. Aston Martin will have 60-70% more wind tunnel use than Red Bull, which may prove to be a significant advantage. If Aston Martin can find another second per lap by halfway through the season, they could be as fast as Red Bull.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and Aston Martin counterpart Mike Krack both agree that Aston Martin has more development time, but it depends on how they utilize it. Krack acknowledges that Aston Martin has a massive gap to close and that Red Bull will not stand still in the meantime.
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