Red Bull RB8 Renault

[Robbobnob]

Not to derail the topic but I think the RB8 is still the fastest car, at least in race pace. It's just that they don't a.)have the qualifying magic they used to have, b.)there are other cars that are almost as fast overall, and in some circumstances faster or just as fast.

In terms of overall car potential I would have to agree that the RB8 is still the fastest car. This is well reflected in the Constructors Points
However this year with the tyres being made out of pencil erasers there is a premium placed on how well the car looks after its rubber. Red Bull have to make compromises on the aggressiveness of their setup to prolong tyre life brings them back into the field.

The interesting thing about the RB8 is its low speed corner performance, which allowed it to perform at Baharain and Monaco, but also has high speed corner performance as shown by its win at Silverstone. Couple that with its ulta low profile rear wing, I am tipping Sebastian for Pole this weekend, with Grosjean closely behind. I dont believe Mclaren will feature too prominently this weekend as I feel their development cycle is a couple of races behind that of Red Bull and Ferrari, however i could be wrong.

[Bomber_Pilot]

I could be wrong and I probably am since I'm watching FP through a live stream, but is RedBull using a McLaren-esque exhaust this weekend?

[myurr]

Not to derail the topic but I think the RB8 is still the fastest car, at least in race pace. It's just that they don't a.)have the qualifying magic they used to have, b.)there are other cars that are almost as fast overall, and in some circumstances faster or just as fast.

In terms of overall car potential I would have to agree that the RB8 is still the fastest car. This is well reflected in the Constructors Points
However this year with the tyres being made out of pencil erasers there is a premium placed on how well the car looks after its rubber. Red Bull have to make compromises on the aggressiveness of their setup to prolong tyre life brings them back into the field.

The interesting thing about the RB8 is its low speed corner performance, which allowed it to perform at Baharain and Monaco, but also has high speed corner performance as shown by its win at Silverstone. Couple that with its ulta low profile rear wing, I am tipping Sebastian for Pole this weekend, with Grosjean closely behind. I dont believe Mclaren will feature too prominently this weekend as I feel their development cycle is a couple of races behind that of Red Bull and Ferrari, however i could be wrong.

If this were true, and it is tyre life holding the Bulls back, then wouldn't we see them routinely getting pole positions? If anything I think it's the reverse - the ultimate pace of the car isn't that great, they haven't quite made the right balance of compromises for ultimate pace, but in general they are getting good life out of the tyres which is allowing them to come back in the races.

Also the ultra low profile rear wing should hold them back more in qualifying than in the race, as DRS will enable the other cars to have more downforce in the corners but then shed that drag down the long straights. In the race the balance will come back the other way.

* Edited for clarity.

[turbof1]

Also the ultra low profile rear wing should hold them back more in qualifying than in the race, as DRS will enable the other cars to have more downforce in the corners but then shed that drag down the long straights. In the race the balance will come back the other way.

* Edited for clarity.

I am not convinced about that. More rear wing angle also means the tyres will last longer.

[myurr]

I am not convinced about that. More rear wing angle also means the tyres will last longer.

Perhaps, but all other things being equal my point would stand.

[stefan_]

[Crucial_Xtreme]

New sponsor on the RB8, plus a good look at the Monza FW

[RB7ate9]

In the vanes underneath the nose and forward chassis, there is a gap. What is the purpose of that gap?

[FrukostScones]

[Owen.C93]

[Crucial_Xtreme]

New sponsor on the RB8, plus a good look at the Monza FW

In the vanes underneath the nose and forward chassis, there is a gap. What is the purpose of that gap?

To better direct airflow to where the team wants. Some teams have turning vanes with a gap and others have solid ones. Ferrari for instance had both drivers using different turning vanes; one with a gap and the other without. Alonso said it came down to personal preference as there wasn't a noticeable gain between the two.
Anyhow, the gap only disturbs/directs airflow where the team wants it to go basically.

[raymondu999]

It may have been for a while, but asides from the exhaust ramps, IMO the boat tail on that car is starting to look anorexic again.

[RB7ate9]

New sponsor on the RB8, plus a good look at the Monza FW

In the vanes underneath the nose and forward chassis, there is a gap. What is the purpose of that gap?

To better direct airflow to where the team wants. Some teams have turning vanes with a gap and others have solid ones. Ferrari for instance had both drivers using different turning vanes; one with a gap and the other without. Alonso said it came down to personal preference as there wasn't a noticeable gain between the two.
Anyhow, the gap only disturbs/directs airflow where the team wants it to go basically.

Interesting how it comes down to just a sort of "feel" to it. Thanks.

[Kiril Varbanov]

The beam wing of RB8 also gets some downforce-shedding treatment - there's a V concave profile in the middle now.



Image courtesy: AMuS

[hardingfv32]

Seems odd.... If you want to shed downforce, why do it in an area where the wing receives very little flow? Why not just reduce the size of the Gurney?

Are we certain these V sections are about 'downforce shedding'?

Brian