Red Bull F1 and Verstappen breathe: the gearbox seems OK

December 5, 2021

After thoroughly analyzing the gearbox of Verstappen’s RB16B , the Milton Keynes -based team’s technicians have ruled out that the impact with the wall could have caused any breakage in said system, so the Dutchman will not have to replace that element, which if he had done so would have meant a sanction of five positions on the starting grid.

The lower suspension arm on the right rear of the car seems to have broken on impact, which is why the tire opened slightly outwards, coming out of the convergence, but without affecting the axle shaft, which obviously did not go through the gearbox. derailleurs but it broke on the side that connects to the wheel.

Beyond the disappointment of losing a pole that seemed to be in his pocket, Verstappen will have to forget about the mistake he made at the key moment in qualifying to arrive at the race with the style that has always characterized him this season.

At this point, the only thing Verstappen can’t afford is a DNF, so surely Red Bull will have done all they can to avoid any doubts about the reliability of the drivetrain, otherwise they would have opted for a substitution as a precaution.

On Saturday, Helmut Marko , Red Bull’s sports advisor, already warned that the team would replace the gearbox if necessary.

“We have to take it apart and check it,” the Austrian told Servus TV .

“We already saw it with Leclerc in Monte Carlo. It had a similar impact, they decided not to change it and then on the warm-up lap the consequences came out and he couldn’t even start the race.

“We’re so quick that we don’t want to take any chances. If the gearbox is damaged or there are signs that something may be wrong, then we’ll change it. It’s hard to overtake here, but still, we’ll do it.”

It must be said that Adrian Newey has designed a gearbox that also takes into account possible contacts, while other solutions on the grid, as is the case with Ferrari, are more delicate in the area of the differential.