Pictures showing the underside of Sergio Perez’s RB19 circulated widely during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, following Perez’s crash in the qualifying round.
These images allowed a detailed glimpse into the innovative floor design of Red Bull, and served as a valuable reference for other teams looking to narrow the gap with the reigning world champion team.
For Williams, however, the focus was more on understanding the ingenuity behind Red Bull’s design.
When queried about the value of these images, Williams’ head of vehicle performance, Dave Robson, responded, “It’s fascinating, for sure. But determining the exact value is a bit more complex.
“We had a great view in Monaco, although we had already seen many similar images – even from last year – which gave us some understanding of its complexity and intricate details.
“Aerodynamic features on an F1 car aren’t things you can simply copy. You must understand their function and how they can be made to work for your car, along with the interaction with other parts.
“The floor design of Red Bull is a classic example. It’s incredibly intricate, and trying to deconstruct it is genuinely challenging, especially understanding how its contours function in a 3D space.
“However, there are a few observable aspects of its geometric structure that one could replicate, test, and learn from in order to improve their own car design. That’s a clear takeaway, and likely a strategy many will adopt.
“But the bigger mystery is understanding how Red Bull arrived at such a complex design. What was their process in achieving this level of complexity?
“That’s a completely new, radically different paradigm. It’s probably more intriguing to understand their journey rather than just focusing on its current functionality. How did they get here and what does this mean for future designs?”
Robson noted that the intricate detail of Red Bull’s floor design likely serves as a reality check for rival teams, highlighting the ground they need to cover.
“It appears quite challenging to me, even though I’m not an aerodynamicist,” he confessed. “However, from an engineering perspective, it’s also a thrilling problem to try and unravel.”
The complex floor design of Red Bull starkly contrasts with the relatively simpler one of Williams, which came to light after Logan Sargeant crashed during the practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Robson acknowledged that while complexity doesn’t necessarily equate to superior performance, it has revealed the extent of improvement needed by Williams.
“It’s undeniable that they are far ahead of us and, in fact, most teams,” he accepted. “There is some correlation there. Not direct, but it exists.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Red Bull F1 floor design
What was the notable feature of the Red Bull F1 car noticed during the Monaco Grand Prix?
The complex and innovative floor design of the Red Bull F1 car, driven by Sergio Perez, was brought to light following a crash during the qualifying round.
Why was the Red Bull F1 car’s floor design of interest to rival teams, such as Williams?
The complex design represented a new level of intricacy, and understanding its function could potentially help rival teams improve their own car designs.
How did Williams’ team react to Red Bull’s complex floor design?
Dave Robson, head of vehicle performance at Williams, found the design fascinating and challenging, acknowledging it as a reality check for the team to realize the extent of improvement needed.
How does the Red Bull F1 car’s floor design compare to Williams’ design?
The Red Bull F1 car’s floor design is notably more complex than Williams’ design, which is relatively simpler.
Is there a direct correlation between the complexity of the floor design and better performance, according to Williams’ head of vehicle performance?
While Dave Robson conceded that Red Bull’s design showed they were far ahead of Williams, he did not assert a direct link between the design’s complexity and better performance. However, he did acknowledge some correlation exists.
More about Red Bull F1 floor design
- Understanding the complexity of F1 car design
- Monaco Grand Prix 2023: Full Report
- Williams Racing Team News
- A look at the Red Bull F1 team
- Insights into F1 aerodynamics
6 comments
looks like Williams has a lot to learn from Red Bull’s playbook. Intriguing stuff, really…
Gotta love the tech in F1. Red Bull are innovators, no doubts mate! Williams needs to step it up.
Engineering and design at its best. Would love to see a detailed breakdown of that floor concept someday.
Red Bull seems to be light years ahead in design… wonder how long till others catch up. Just saying…
Wow, this F1 stuff is intense. who knew a floor could be so complex?! Kudos to Red Bull
it’s not just about speed, it’s about design and aerodynamics too… fascinating article! #GoWilliams