Red Bull RB8 Renault

[raymondu999]

Tbh it looks as though Vettel is running the Barca race spec and Webber the Barca tested spec. No change to either that I can see - except maybe there is a slight dip after the exhaust slot on Vettel's car?

If the blasted tunnel is choking all the time, why don't they just eliminate the aftside "wall" of the tunnel? ie have the coanda ramp go down all the way until that last 50mm or so? Sort of a hybrid fashion between the bulge fairing and the V1 Sauber. Wouldn't that eliminate the chokepoint?

[Gridlock]

I can't find pics but the front drums (the disc/caliper shrouds) appeared to have slots in very similar to the McLaren adjustable ones, for tyre heating. I thought when I'd seen them previously they were solid, but maybe this is just additional monaco cooling.

[F1PuertoRico]

Yes thx, cant jsut be me seeing 2 streaks?

It could be during the fast parts of the track heat the lower area, and during the slower ones heat the higher area were the exhaust really aim.

[dxpetrov]

I hope they will stick with the tunnel sidepods. Look more developed and purposeful. Clearly, SV was much faster on short stints with them at Barca FP1&2, but probably they found they are not that consistent during the race sims...
Apparently, it's a paddock story now, that the tunnel sidepods give the car more speed but the problem starts when the slot gets jammed with debris and dirt from the track...

[i70q7m7ghw]

Interesting how the super clean rear end of the RB his now become super messy. When you compare this to the McLaren or even the Sauber you have to wonder if the simpler solution is the most optimal.

[raymondu999]

Or maybe a clean rear is not all it's made out to be... After all Newey sacrificed a better-packaged A-spec for this spec.

[Nando]

Or maybe a clean rear is not all it's made out to be... After all Newey sacrificed a better-packaged A-spec for this spec.

That could have been simply because Vettel was struggling like crazy to cope with it.
It doesn´t necessarily mean it was slower seeing as several teams run similar layouts as the "clean" version of the RBR.
And have been competitive at that.

[raymondu999]

Or maybe a clean rear is not all it's made out to be... After all Newey sacrificed a better-packaged A-spec for this spec.

That could have been simply because Vettel was struggling like crazy to cope with it.
It doesn´t necessarily mean it was slower seeing as several teams run similar layouts as the "clean" version of the RBR.
And have been competitive at that.

Mate - Vettel was struggling with the B spec. He was the one who kept asking for the A-spec (which he got, in China)

[dxpetrov]

no 'tunnels' this morning!
seems like those are not working at the end... bugger!

[i70q7m7ghw]

Do the regulations limit the height of that tunnel? My gut feeling is the opening isn't tall enough and it's choking, I'm just wondering if they are limited by the regulations in this area.

[RB7ate9]

Tunnels, no tunnels, ramps, no ramps, all the back and forth in terms of coke-bottle and exhaust aero, I sincerely hope that they have the rest of the car properly tuned and maximized.

As I recall from last year, the RB's renault engine was underpowered compared to the Ferrari and Mercedes powerplants. The aero from the ebd as well as operating in clean air on pole could have compensated for this.

This year, though, it continues to appear that the RB's Renault engine is underpowered compared to not only the Ferrari and Mercedes powerplants, but of that of the Lotuses as well. There are several times where Lotus just manages to make up time in the straights, and they are using clean RB5-like exhausts. If exhaust is where the majority of development attention is being paid, than I am greatly concerned about RB.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Good overhead of the Red Bull solution used in Quali

[siskue2005]

oh god, how many times does RBR change their back end?
this new one is more tapering than the old one

they are trying many many tunnel solution
if at all they want to have clear sidepod flow, why dont they try Mclaren's solution?

[ajprice]

This year, though, it continues to appear that the RB's Renault engine is underpowered compared to not only the Ferrari and Mercedes powerplants, but of that of the Lotuses as well.

Red Bull and Lotus both run Renault engines so not sure what you mean there, unless one team is works and the other is a customer engine.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

This year, though, it continues to appear that the RB's Renault engine is underpowered compared to not only the Ferrari and Mercedes powerplants, but of that of the Lotuses as well.

Red Bull and Lotus both run Renault engines so not sure what you mean there, unless one team is works and the other is a customer engine.

Red Bull is the Renault works team. I think the difference is mainly down to different aerodynamic philosophies.