Red Bull has had its fair share of the spending this season and the budget cap hasn’t helped. The team had to fix a mutilated car, necessary engine upgrades, and then the controversy surrounding the infamous Flexi-Wing. Spotlighted by Lewis Hamilton after the Spanish GP; the “flexible wing on the back of their car” had given Red Bull an advantage on the straights.
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Red Bull’s CTO Adrian Newey looked back on the turbulent first half. He analyzed the controversy surrounding the Flexi-Wing and responded to it. While teams like Alfa Romeo and Ferrari also made use of the technology, Mercedes only focused on the alleged benefits that Red Bull had gained, according to Newey.
Formula 1 F1 – Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria – July 2, 2021 Red Bulls Max Verstappen during training REUTERS / Leonhard Foeger
“We were certainly not the only team that had this problem, but when Mercedes started making noise … Problems started to emerge this season between the two teams. The Flexi Wings controversy caused a lot of anger between the two team bosses.
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Newey also explained the impact of the protests on Red Bull’s pockets. “Replacing this part had implied a cost, which obviously hurt.” The FIA’s new policy prompted many teams to stabilize their wings in front of Paul Ricard after the Azerbaijan GP.
What are flexi wings?
The FIA’s technical regulations state that components that influence the aerodynamics of the car must be “rigidly attached to the fully sprung part of the car” and “remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car”. This means that apart from the DRS, the front and rear fenders cannot move. To enforce this, the FIA subjects the cars to a sag test, which no team has yet failed.
The Flexi-Wings basically reduce the air resistance, which increases the speed. This is an advantage in the faster sections of the route. The FIA does not recommend the use of such flexible parts as a safety requirement.
Check out this story: Lewis Hamilton’s incredible collection of cars
Why was Red Bull scrutinized?
Christian Horner, who fought hard to keep the part, didn’t welcome the mid-season design change. Making the wing stiffer also meant spending more below the cost cap.
Horner had argued that infinite rigidity was an illusion. “To believe that everyone’s aerodynamic surface is completely stiff would be a fallacy. It’s just not the case with every single car on the grid. You can see that visibly. “
Formula 1 F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – May 9, 2021 Red Bulls Max Verstappen in action during the REUTERS / Albert Gea race
Red Bull also argued that the front wing of the Mercedes car had moved, but no one wanted to investigate. “Look at some footage from Imola at the front of our competitor’s car and it will show you very clearly the flexible aerodynamics which, as we know, the front wing is a far more sensitive part of the car than the rear of the car you pick part of the car and that will inevitably move. “
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Formula 1 F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 18, 2021 Red Bulls Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the REUTERS / Guglielmo Mangiapane race
Regardless, Adrian Newey believes the controversy only highlighted the resilience of the Milton Keynes team. “However, it is great evidence of the depth of our team that we can respond to change and is a great example of how when our team is cornered we can fight and continue to be just as competitive.”
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The war between the Silver Arrows and the attacking bulls dominated the first half of the season. With the season resuming imminent, the swords will undoubtedly be drawn again.
The post “Started making noise” – Newey reveals how Mercedes Red Bull F1 really “hurts” first appeared on monter-une-startup.
