‘Red Bull are beatable’: Why chasing pack are so hopeful heading into F1 testing
Red Bull has been defeated’: why a driver team with such high hopes is preparing for F1 testing
What’s noteworthy about each Bahrain team this week?
Can Red Bull’s Max Verstappen succeed again in 2024?
Can Red Bull’s Max Verstappen succeed again in 2024?
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare asks what a name is. Let’s hope this is enough as F1 begins a new season that must bring more than the previous season. ‘Asymptotic’, a new word in the F1 engineering lexicon, explains why Mercedes technical director James Allison believes Red Bull may not succeed in 2024.
The basic idea is about the nature of diminishing returns to performance under a particular set of rules. Every scientific condition has a theoretical optimum. The closer you get to optimizing your vehicle, the less benefit you will receive. Red Bull is the most vulnerable to asymptotic curve flattening as it takes full advantage of the ground force aerodynamics introduced in 2022. The question is whether the opposition can catch up quickly enough. Here are some things to keep in mind when the 2024 cars hit the road for the first time during the F1 test in Bahrain, starting with the reigning champion. His three-day test begins on Wednesday, February 21st. Each session will be broadcast by Sky Sports and can be streamed live via the Sky Go app.
red bull
This car is an evolution of the dominant 2023 car that won all but one race last season. Christian Horner, head of Under Fire Group, is awaiting the outcome of an investigation into allegations of control and inappropriate behavior towards employees, which he categorically denies and calls the development offensive. Stated.
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom – December 13: Mexican Sergio Perez and Oracle Red Bull Racing (left) and Dutch Max Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing as Max and Czech return to the Red Bull Racing factory Milton Keynes, England, December 13, 2023. Red Bull’s 2023 prize money win
Notable changes can be seen in the bodywork around the side panels and engine cover that control airflow to the rear of the car and floor. The horizontal air intakes in front of the side stands that cool the radiators have been replaced by vertical air ducts to improve air circulation around the sides of the car. Also, his two tunnels extending rearward from the passenger compartment are a new feature that limit the negative impact of airflow on downforce. Sergio Perez, who struggled to keep up with three-time world champion Max Verstappen’s pace last season, hopes the changes will solve problems he experienced in slow corners.
mercedes
Alisson’s optimism is based on qualifying data, with single lap times decreasing as the season progresses. “The cars in the first quarter were all crashing into each other within a second. That’s no coincidence,” he said. “I think this trend started in 2020, continues through 2023, and will continue to emerge in 2024. We expect the top half of the board to be relatively more active this time than last time.
F1 has refused to discuss Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, leaving fans disappointed.
kevin garside
F1 has refused to discuss Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, leaving fans disappointed.
Described by Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff as a complete fresh start, the 2024 car features fundamental changes to the chassis, gearbox and suspension structure. The cosmetic changes were made after it was discovered during testing last year that the Army had misunderstood regulations. The zero side suspension is gone from the Monaco and a new floor has been installed.
Mercedes continued to improve its car throughout 2023, but the fundamental changes needed to compete with Red Bull were only possible in the winter. Improvements include a new seat that is moved 10cm further from the front wheels, as requested by Lewis Hamilton.
ferrari
Team principal Fred Wasser says the 2024 Prancing Horse will be 95% different. Ferrari was as fast or faster than Red Bull in one qualifying lap, so the focus was on making the car more responsive over long distances and fixing its tire chewing habits.
Fiorano Modenese, Italy – February 14: Monaco’s Charles Leclerc and Scuderia Ferrari during the official photo day for Scuderia Ferrari at the Fiorano Circuit in Fiorano Modenese, Italy on February 14, 2024. Drive the new Ferrari SF-24. (Photo credit: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio)
In 2024, Ferrari underwent a major overhaul.
Like other teams outside of Red Bull, Ferrari has struggled to introduce positive computer simulation on the track. It’s all about improving airflow so that the floor can do its job and stabilize the vehicle at high speeds. Significantly improved side suspension increases downward lean and shortens the gearcase to direct air around the floor and diffuser edges, making it possible, at least in theory, to make the car last year more level. This allows you to avoid aerodynamic losses due to severe damage sustained when
Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore was the only race Red Bull did not win in 2023. How ironic that Sainz, who sacrificed himself for Hamilton in 2025, was hoping to make the most of the more manageable Ferrari in 2024.
mclaren
The 2024 car is probably the least modified on the grid. Despite being the first car built in the team’s new wind tunnel and fully controlled by new team principal Andrea Stella, not all planned improvements were completed by the start of the season.
Red Bull’s intense civil war draws attention over Christian Horner allegations
kevin garside
Red Bull’s intense civil war draws attention over Christian Horner allegations
McLaren took some encouragement from last year’s mid-season changes, going from an ineffective start to eight podiums. “There are a lot of innovations in this car, but not all the areas that we would like to implement have been implemented in the launch version of this car,” Stella said. “These areas are now at the heart of our seasonal development, which is already underway.”
Lando Norris, who ultimately finished the championship in 6th place, just one point behind Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso, entered the race for the sixth time in hopes of scoring, if not a world title, then at least his first career win. Heading into the season. “Can we beat Red Bull?” Norris wondered. “I have to say yes because we were very close at one point. But the question is, can we beat them during the season? I think it will be very difficult. ”
aston martin
After a smart start to the season with five podiums in the first six races, Aston leader Fernando Alonso managed to squeeze a little more power out of a car that was visibly behind. . The new nose, radiator intake/side supports and rear suspension revived hopes of giving Alonso the weapons to challenge the leaders again from the start.
ABU DHABI, UAE – NOVEMBER 26: Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin Aramco Guninant F1 Team of Spain during the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 26, 2023 Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin Aramco Courant F1 Team in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo provided by Qian Jun/MB Media)
Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso hope for a similar start to last season (Photo: Getty)
“We are very pleased with the progress we have made over the winter,” said technical director Dan Fallows. “The main objective for us is to ensure that this car is a good platform for development throughout the season. There’s quite a lot under the hood that we hope we never see. ”
Takayama
For the sports brand Renault Alpine, 2024 could not be a worse year than 2023, and in the Manufacturers’ Championship he rose from 4th to his 6th place. Due to the economic downturn, there was a major change in management midway through the season, with the team manager and sporting director resigning. A lighter chassis, redesigned rear running board and new rear suspension underpin a radical design change designed to get the most out of talented French duo Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. I am.
williams
American Williams driver Logan Sargent attends a press conference ahead of the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 23, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Logan Sargent has a big year at Williams (Photo: Getty)
The first car delivered by new team principal James Bolles since leaving Mercedes last year, it is set to continue the improvements that took Williams to seventh place in the constructors’ championship in 2023, its best result since 2017. It is expected. Last year, he easily overtook American newcomer Logan. Sgt. This is an important season for Sargent, and Williams will need to significantly improve on the points he scored in his rookie year to continue his career.
Why Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinne is trying her best to keep his condition a secret
kevin garside
Why Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinne tries to keep her health a secret
Everything has changed for the Red Bull Junior Team. The Bicester-based company, formerly known as AlphaTauri, has appointed a new CEO, team principal and racing director as it prepares to integrate much of its design process into its main partner’s infrastructure in Milton Keynes. , hired a technical director. It will be up to Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda to make the most of the new dynamics, especially the former who is looking to unseat Perez in the 2025 Red Bull race.
sauber kick
Finnish F1 driver Valtteri Bottas during the second stage of the Tour Down Under bicycle race in Adelaide on January 13, 2024. (Photo by Brenton EDWARDS/AFP) / — Image is for editorial use only – commercial use is strictly prohibited.
Bottas enjoyed life on two wheels during the F1 off-season.
Another team with a new name. The former Alfa Romeo Swiss team is essentially preparing for the arrival of Audi, who will join in 2026. Hinwil’s base has been upgraded ahead of Audi’s entry, but there is little sign that Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Chou will be able to finish better than the ninth place they achieved in last year’s Manufacturers’ Championship.
hearth
After Netflix god Gunther Steiner leaves, life for forever latecomers will never be the same. It remains to be seen whether the team and the level of their English will improve with Ayao Komatsu replacing Steiner as team leader. Rest assured that this number of points (12 points in total last season) will set the record for the most points in the manager’s office in 2024.
