At Red Bull they are not satisfied with recovering technical supremacy with the RB18 that literally crushed its rivals at Spa-Francorchamps. The Milton Keynes team are working hard to collect data that will be useful for the coming season, and have made themselves available to the FIA to test larger mirrors, responding to Nikolas Tombazis ‘ stewards’ request for 2023. .
The Austrians repeat a test that they have already carried out in Hungary, although the peculiarity is that Sergio Pérez mounted the largest mirror on the right side, while Max Verstappen did it on the left. In Zandvoort, several teams will participate in these tests required by the international federation, despite the fact that the regulations continue to indicate the size of the mirrors.
Sensors in Max Verstappen’s Red Bull RB18
The team that leads the classification has decided to mount a series of sensors on the Dutchman’s car at key points, unlike the rest, who use large grids. There’s an extension from the car’s camera to the sides of the engine cover with three sensors, but there are also others on the edge of the airbox and on top of the chassis, where the upper front suspension arm juts out into the bodywork.
This is surprising, as the ability to create such a small data collection system reduces weight and aerodynamic drag. The energy drinkers presented two different wing configurations at Zandvoort, which they will test in the first free practice sessions: Max Verstappen uses the old half-load, and Sergio Pérez with a spoon-shaped main profile with a more pronounced high aerodynamics. .
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB18, detail of the high-load rear wing
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18, detail of the medium load rear wing
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
The aspect that characterizes both solutions is that the lateral support of the mobile spoiler no longer has the square shape of before, but has adopted a more rounded version that allows greater efficiency, even when the DRS is open, a choice available thanks to be able to test the opening element in the banked curve.
Red Bull RB18 floor comparisons
Red Bull also maintains the two different floors. Checo uses the Ferrari-style set-up, not because he likes it better but because the aerodynamicists want to understand why this solution gives less results than they see in the wind tunnel.
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