DDopey wrote: ↑03 Aug 2025, 12:13
pantherxxx wrote: ↑03 Aug 2025, 11:51
Red Bull’s RB21 clearly still has strong aerodynamic efficiency, especially in high-speed corners where downforce plays a bigger role. That’s what’s keeping them competitive on circuits like Silverstone or Suzuka, where fast-flowing sections dominate. Two wins and four poles amid handling issues in slow-speed corners is impressive and speaks to how good the baseline aero package is.
But the mechanical grip issue — probably stemming from suspension setup or floor stiffness — is killing them in low-speed traction zones. That, paired with poor tyre management (maybe overheating or inability to switch compounds into the right window), is what's making them vulnerable.
If they can sort out those mechanical and tyre-related gremlins without compromising their high-speed strengths, they’ll be fast again.
Rob Marshall was a major figure in Red Bull’s design team, particularly in the mechanical side of things. As Chief Engineering Officer, he played a key role not just in aero concepts but in translating them into a car that worked well mechanically — suspension geometry, compliance, ride behavior, how the floor interacts with varying track surfaces — all crucial in low-speed performance and tyre usage.
His move to McLaren last year might be showing its ripple effect now. McLaren has surged in both high- and low-speed performance, and Red Bull seems to have lost a bit of that “magic” mechanical balance that allowed their cars to rotate beautifully in tight corners while preserving tyres.
It’s very plausible that while Red Bull's aero department (even after losing Newey) remains strong, the loss of someone like Marshall is now being felt in how the chassis and suspension handle dynamic loads — especially under braking and traction zones.
If that’s the case, Red Bull will need someone to step up into that mechanical development role quickly, so they can make a better car for the 2026 regs.
The weird thing of this is that Newey himself claimed he was mostly involved with the suspension for this generation of cars if I recall correctly.
Found this quote about Marshall
Fallows emphasized the importance of Marshall's role in aligning aerodynamics with vehicle dynamics, particularly under the current regulations. He noted:
“Sometimes – particularly with this regulation set, where it's very important to be able to link up aerodynamics and the vehicle dynamics side of things – it's very important to get the suspension working with the aero in the right way. He's somebody who can help bridge the gap between departments.”
— Marshall's innovative approach has been credited with addressing mechanical challenges and fostering creative solutions. Fallows continued:
“I don't know how well they were working before, but he's certainly somebody who can do that. But also he's a great innovator. So if they have particular problems, particularly on the mechanical side, he's somebody who's very good at coming up with creative solutions for that.”
— The MCL39's suspension innovations, while not solely attributed to Marshall, bear his influence. Fallows added:
“I think we've seen some interesting innovations from them on the suspension, for example. And I'm not saying it was necessarily him, but it's certainly got his name all over it.”
“I think he's able to do that and also able just to be that kind of figurehead, somebody to go and talk to. It's very useful in a team that particularly is under a lot of stress. I think he probably has had an impact.”
