Red Bull have warned rivals that if they think an “ignorant” copy and paste of their RB19 floor will propel them up the order, then they should think again. Crashes for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend gave rivals a detailed look at the crucial undersides of those challengers as the crane hoisted them away from the circuit. Naturally, that left engineers from rival teams with plenty of photos to study for how they may be able to take inspiration for the floor on their respective cars, with Red Bull’s arguably of greatest interest considering their all-conquering form so far in F1 2023, having won all seven grands prix. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has already said “hats off” to Red Bull for their work, though Red Bull’s chief engineer Paul Monaghan stressed that it is work which is successfully integrated into their package, and certainly not plug-and-play solutions. Red Bull then now wait to see the results of that … [Read more...] about Red Bull issue clear warning to rivals following RB19 floor reveal
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Red Bull’s Spanish GP diffuser update was ‘inspired by rivals’ including Williams · RaceFans
The team which has dominated the 2023 Formula 1 season so far introduced an update to its car last weekend which drew inspiration from a design used by the team currently at the bottom of the standings. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Red Bull’s chief engineer of car engineering Paul Monaghan said the latest revision to the RB19’s diffuser follows a trend adopted by Williams, among other teams. The team increased the curvature of the edges of its diffuser in an update introduced at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in order to increase the downforce it generates. In the information it supplied to the FIA, Red Bull made a point of stating the change “took inspiration from competitor designs.” “You can’t assume that you have the best solution in all areas of the car when you first put your car on the ground,” Monaghan told media including RaceFans. “Our currency is lap time, isn’t it? “If you look that piece of floor design, that was out early 2022. I … [Read more...] about Red Bull’s Spanish GP diffuser update was ‘inspired by rivals’ including Williams · RaceFans
Mercedes: Canada a “bigger challenge” than Barcelona for upgraded F1 car
At last week's Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell scored a double podium after the Brackley team's comprehensive upgrade package delivered a solid step forward. While Hamilton still finished 24 seconds behind dominant winner Max Verstappen , Mercedes' W14 was the second-strongest car on the high-downforce circuit, providing the team with a solid baseline to continue its recovery. The double podium also elevated Mercedes above Aston Martin to second place in the constructors' standings. But Shovlin, the team's trackside engineering director, expects the Canadian Grand Prix to be a more difficult weekend for the Silver Arrows due to the low-downforce nature of Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which is the polar opposite of the Barcelona circuit that its revamped 2023 car was competitive at. "The fact is that the update kit works very well around circuits like Barcelona with a lot of high-speed performance," Shovlin said in Mercedes' post-race … [Read more...] about Mercedes: Canada a “bigger challenge” than Barcelona for upgraded F1 car
Vasseur: Ferrari can fight Mercedes once F1 consistency issues are solved
The SF-23 has been quick over one lap in qualifying thus far this season, but has usually lost out to Mercedes , and often Aston Martin as well, over a race distance. That pattern was repeated in the Spanish GP, where Carlos Sainz qualified second but was jumped by both Mercedes drivers, as well as the Red Bull of Sergio Perez , in the race. Vasseur believes that Ferrari will be able to challenge Mercedes in races once it has solved its issues. "I think as soon as we will unlock the situation with consistency we can imagine to fight with them all over the race," he said. "With Red Bull it's another story, especially with [Max] Verstappen. He is still much faster than us in quali, much faster in the race." He insists that Ferrari is keeping up with Mercedes in the development race as both teams strive to catch Red Bull. "An upgrade when you increase the potential of the car, we are speaking about the top," he said. "You have to think that Mercedes, they are not … [Read more...] about Vasseur: Ferrari can fight Mercedes once F1 consistency issues are solved
Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is “lacking detail”
The floor was exposed after Logan Sargeant crashed at the final corner in FP3 in Barcelona and his car was loaded onto a truck. That came just a week after the undersides of the Red Bull RB19 and Mercedes W14 were both captured after accidents in Monaco led to them being craned away. The apparent simplicity of the Williams floor in comparison to those of other cars – especially the Red Bull – was hard for observers to miss. Vowles says the rear angle of the pictures didn't flatter the Williams, but he conceded that the floor is not as complex as those of other cars. "There are photos taken of our floor this weekend after Logan went off in FP3," he said in a team video. "And obviously those have been compared to photography taken of our competitors just a few weeks ago. "I think one thing to point out is they're a little bit deceptive. What's happened here is it's very focused on that rear diffuser ramp, unlike the other photos that perhaps focus more on the front of … [Read more...] about Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is “lacking detail”
Horner: Perez can relax now F1 title pressure is off
Perez won two of the four opening races of the 2023 season and, after his victory in the Azerbaijan GP, he was just six points behind Verstappen and touted as a potential title challenger. The gap was extended when the Dutchman led a Red Bull one-two in Miami. Perez then had a disastrous weekend in Monaco, crashing in Q1 and finishing well out of the points after a fraught race. Perez again had a scrappy qualifying in Spain that saw him start only 11th. He was able to recover to fourth place in the race. Verstappen won both the Monaco and Spanish events, further extending his lead, with the gap between the Red Bull drivers now standing at 53 points. Horner says that with a title challenge currently looking less realistic a solid race in Barcelona will help Perez to relax. "I think for him that'll give him a lot of confidence coming out of this," he said. "He has had a difficult Monaco, difficult Saturday here, a stronger Sunday. Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, Max … [Read more...] about Horner: Perez can relax now F1 title pressure is off
Canadian GP not under threat from wildfires, say F1 · RaceFans
Formula 1 expects next week’s Canadian Grand Prix to go ahead as normal despite wildfires which have affected air quality in the area. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Over 150 fires have been reported in Quebec, the province which is also home to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where the race is due to take place. The pollution caused by the fires has led to warnings in surrounding areas where millions of people have been advised to wear face masks as a precaution against smoke inhalation. The smoke has spread far beyond Quebec to the north and south, including into the United States of America. However according to F1 the fires are around 800 kilometres from the circuit, the air quality in Montreal has already begun to improve and they have no concerns about the event going ahead. Air quality in the city fell below normal standards earlier in the week – though it was better than at some venues F1 visits – and has since improved. Forecasts for the … [Read more...] about Canadian GP not under threat from wildfires, say F1 · RaceFans
Nico Rosberg reveals Michael Schumacher’s adaptation struggles upon F1 comeback
With Fernando Alonso still going very strong over 40, Nico Rosberg used that as inspiration to discuss his time as team-mate to Michael Schumacher when he returned to F1. Schumacher initially called time on his legendary Formula 1 career after the 2006 campaign, by which point he had broken a plethora of records with the jewel in the crown being his status as a seven-time World Champion. But after a Ferrari return in 2009 to cover for the injured Felipe Massa was thwarted for Schumacher by a neck injury, the German racer secured a return to Formula 1 for 2010 as he and Nico Rosberg became team-mates at the new Mercedes team. Schumacher’s return lasted three seasons, though did not feature anything like the success of his past, with a P3 finish at the 2012 European Grand Prix and setting the fastest qualifying lap in Monaco that year serving as the highlights. Having turned 41 in his first Mercedes season, he bowed out at the age of 43. And now Alonso, who ended Schumacher’s … [Read more...] about Nico Rosberg reveals Michael Schumacher’s adaptation struggles upon F1 comeback
2013 Canadian GP review: Vettel makes amends for 2011 – F1 Fanatic
Sebastian Vettel made amends for his last-lap defeat at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve two years ago and bolstered his championship lead with his third victory of 2013. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free It wasn’t a flawless performance from Vettel – he brushed the wall on the way and ran wide at the first corner. But if he occasionally looked like throwing victory away no one ever looked like taking it off him. Vettel streaks away as Bottas goes backwards The same two drivers shared the front row as last year: Vettel ahead of Lewis Hamilton . But the opening laps were strikingly different: far from keeping Vettel in his sights, Hamilton could only look on as the Red Bull drove away in the opening laps. Behind them Valtteri Bottas fought hard to hold onto his hard-won third place from qualifying but his car was clearly unequal to the struggle. Nico Rosberg passed him off the line and Mark Webber got past in the opening corners. Bottas defended firmly … [Read more...] about 2013 Canadian GP review: Vettel makes amends for 2011 – F1 Fanatic