In May, a qualifying incident at the Monaco Grand Prix involving Sergio Perez led to his car, the RB19, being hoisted aloft, revealing the car’s undercarriage to photographers. This incident gave rival teams a glimpse into the modifications made by the leading F1 team, Red Bull, to their car’s floor.
Consequently, when Perez’s RB19 was salvaged in Hungary after an early crash during the opening practice session, rival teams likely felt a similar sense of anticipation as the floor was once again on display – particularly since Red Bull had recently implemented some updates.
Prior to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Red Bull disclosed in the official documents submitted to the FIA that specific modifications were made to the floor edge detail following adjustments to the sidepods.
The team elaborated: “The reshaped sidepod has prompted minor changes to the floor edges to correspond with the upstream surfaces, which has generated additional localized load.”
Detailed scrutiny of the photos post Perez’s crash reveals that, apart from minor geometrical changes to accommodate the new sidepod layout, a notable evolution can be discerned on the underside.
This feature has been observed elsewhere – notably on Lewis Hamilton’s W14 after his Monaco practice crash, in an unexpected twist of fate.
In both instances, a series of strakes were added to the rear section of the edge wing to assist in directing airflow around the surface.
The real question is whether witnessing the Mercedes design in Monaco spurred Red Bull’s interest in this direction, or whether it was already a part of the intended update package?
Regardless, it’s intriguing to observe the convergence on similar design paths, even if they’re not exact replicas of each other, given the necessity to integrate with their specific environments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Red Bull’s F1 floor changes
What incident revealed Red Bull’s F1 floor changes?
Sergio Perez’s accidents during the Monaco Grand Prix and in Hungary provided a glimpse of Red Bull’s F1 car undercarriage, revealing the team’s floor modifications.
What modifications were made to the RB19 floor?
According to Red Bull, changes were made to the floor edge detail of the RB19 as a result of alterations to the sidepods. The reshaped sidepod led to minor changes to the floor edges to work with the upstream surfaces, generating additional localized load.
What design feature was observed on the underside of Red Bull’s car?
A series of strakes were added to the rear section of the edge wing on the RB19’s underside. This feature is designed to help direct the airflow as it passes around the surface.
Did Red Bull copy the Mercedes’ design feature?
It’s unclear whether Red Bull’s design direction was influenced by the Mercedes design spotted in Monaco or whether it was already part of their planned update package. However, the teams’ designs show intriguing similarities.
How do the design changes of different F1 teams compare?
There’s a noticeable convergence on similar design paths among different F1 teams. However, these aren’t exact replicas of each other as they must integrate with their specific environments.
More about Red Bull’s F1 floor changes
- F1 News, Drivers, Results – Formula 1 Live Online
- Red Bull Racing Official Page
- Overview of F1 Car Design
- Sergio Perez Profile
- F1 Technical Regulations
5 comments
Man, I knew Perez’s crash was gonna give away some secrets! Bet Merc was clicking away with their cameras too, lol.
What a season this is, huh? Red bull’s always got some trick up their sleeve. Can’t wait to see how these changes play out!
hate to see Perez crash but gotta admit, seeing the underside of that RB19… pure engineering beauty.
is it just me or does it seem like everyone’s copying everyone in F1 these days. Just look at the similarities in design… interesting!
rb19 floor changes. all for better downforce, right? these teams are so cagey, never know what’s next!