Efficiency in this context refers to how well the car slices through the air. Red Bull’s design aims to minimize drag, which allows the car to achieve higher speeds on straights.
An efficient car requires less power to maintain a given speed, which is crucial for both fuel efficiency and overall performance.Red Bull’s focus on aerodynamic efficiency is a calculated risk. They’ve optimized their car to be efficient but must carefully manage the trade-off with downforce.
Red Bull cannot raise their car without losing 'a lot' of downforce
Helmut: “Our car has a concept where we have focused on aerodynamic efficiency and we can't raise it off the ground to better handle the kerbs without losing a lot of downforce."
"I believe we still have an… pic.twitter.com/ZIbezHY0ck
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) May 31, 2024
Helmut said,: “Our car has a concept where we have focused on aerodynamic efficiency and we can’t raise it off the ground to better handle the kerbs without losing a lot of downforce.”
He continued, “I believe we still have an advantage on traditional circuits, if we are not ahead in Barcelona then we will really have a problem. On circuits where we are not the most competitive, we can count on the Verstappen factor, he is in full form and makes the difference.”
“Red Bull’s Kangaroo Car: Verstappen’s Frustration
During the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying, Verstappen expressed frustration with the RB20’s handling. Avoiding kerbs in the middle sector was essential, but the car’s kangaroo-like behavior made it tricky. Red Bull’s struggles were evident as Verstappen secured only sixth place on the grid1.
Helmut Marko revealed that the sim-to-track correlation “doesn’t work.” The team faces a delicate balancing act: minimizing the kangaroo effect without sacrificing too much aerodynamic efficiency. When the car jumps unpredictably, it becomes challenging to predict its behavior during crucial moments in races.
In the simulator, Red Bull’s car glides smoothly over kerbs without any issues. However, when they hit the actual circuit, the car behaves unpredictably—almost like a kangaroo bouncing around. Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s star driver, likened it to a go-kart. This discrepancy has affected their performance, as seen in Miami and partly in Imola.
Marko remains optimistic. He believes that when they hit traditional circuits like Barcelona, they’ll find their old form again. The challenge lies in fine-tuning the car’s setup to minimize the kangaroo effect while maintaining competitive performance. Verstappen’s exceptional driving skills will play a crucial role in overcoming this hurdle.
