Not only Ferrari has copied Red Bull in some of the elements of its car. As we already told Motorsport.com, the Italian aerodynamicists took the RB18 as their inspiration to introduce a kind of steps at the bottom of the car to generate vortices that could generate more downforce through the Venturi tunnels.
The bottom of the Ferrari F1-75 in the round with the steps in Red Bull style
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
The bottom of the Red Bull Racing RB18 with steps both in front and behind
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Also, the metal skid that prevents wear on the underside by scraping the tarmac as it goes down as speed increases is a Milton Keynes design, and Maranello had no problem introducing this Red Bull design, not to mention the mounting of the F1-75 mirrors, increasingly similar to that of the Austrian single-seater.
Ferrari F1-75 mirror support detail
The Italian team, therefore, has been inspired by the RB18 in what represents a convergence towards more functional technical solutions that are destined to set the standard for other teams as well. The flow isn’t as one-way as it might seem, because Adrian Newey is also keeping a close eye on updates from Ferrari.
Ferrari F1-75 diffuser detail with a carbon keel attached
The ingenious Briton did not miss the diffuser that those from Maranello introduced in the F1-75 in Barcelona, which has a carbon keel that has been included in the central part of said area. Red Bull tested this concept in the wind tunnel, and did not hesitate to mount this solution in the single-seaters of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.
Red Bull Racing RB18 Ferrari-style keel diffuser
In the RB18 they have introduced an important package of novelties for the Azerbaijan event, since in addition to the special and very low-load rear wing, which continues to cause problems when the DRS is opened, and the beam wing, there is a modification in the diffuser.
This is included in the bottom area, which has been made steeper at the end to increase airflow which is channeled into the redesigned slot on the side of this section.
Detail of the new floor and brace at the bottom of the Red Bull Racing RB18
As for the floor, the presence of a small strap between the side and the edge is noticeable, but we have not yet been able to observe the striking metal arm that reinforces the lower part near the rear wheel, just behind the “elbow” where the diffuser rises to form the diffuser.
Metallic element that hardens the bottom to prevent porpoising in the Red Bull Racing RB18
It is interesting to point out that there is a specific adjustable tie rod thanks to which it is possible to control the height of the bottom with respect to the asphalt depending on the porpoising . Red Bull fights a battle with weight reduction, but they do not hesitate to introduce solutions that limit rebounds, even with an increase in kilos, and in the end the idea prevails that, in the compromise of the various options, they ensure a greater performance.
Adrian Newey has created a kind of fabric to lighten the RB18, but he has seen how his car has added kilos for these parts.
Red Bull’s innovations, therefore, are far more important than might appear, showing that the Milton Keynes-based team doesn’t seem to mind the budget cap. In the case of McLaren, the director of the Woking team, Andreas Seidl , admitted that they would not be able to comply with the financial regulations. Will there be a fight over this?
