Red Bull Racing has unveiled its 2024 F1 challenger, the RB20, a landmark design that marks the team’s 20th season in Formula 1.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit enters the 2024 F1 season basking in the glory of 2023’s double championship triumph. Max Verstappen’s individual dominance and the team’s strategic prowess ensured they conquered both driver and constructor titles.
Red Bull’s new contender evidently has some big wheels to fill following the crushing campaign enjoyed by its predecessor.
The new design, penned and conceived by the engineering department helmed by technical director Pierre Waché under the supervision of CTO Adrian Newey, benefits from continuity but integrates some bold features, while the team’s partnership with Honda, rebranded as Red Bull Powertrains, strengthens its self-reliance and control over performance.
At first glance, a striking feature of the RB20 – at least in its launch specification – is the pair of long cooling gulleys that from the halo down the length of the engine cover.
While RB20 retains the downwash sidepod solutions of its predecessor, the car appears to have an even more undercut and steep sidepod radiator inlet.
Other areas of the car, such as the floor, appear as overly simplified, likely for the purpose of keeping under wraps some of the car’s secrets ahead of its official track debut next week in Bahrain.
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Aesthetically, the RB20’s livery remains consistent with previous schemes in terms of design and color.
“It’s an evolution of last year’s car, obviously, and it’s our 20th version,” commented Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
“The guys haven’t been [sitting still], it’s not conservative, and you can see they’ve been quite aggressive in certain areas and still pushing the boundaries.
“I’m conscious that our opponents are still pushing very hard and I’ve seen a few cars that have been released that look similar in theme to what we launched with last year.
“You can see that all the men and women behind the scenes have been working very hard [on the RB20] and some of the detail on the car is absolutely exquisite.”
During the launch event at Milton Keynes, three-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen said that he had been given a confidential heads up on the car’s design by the team last year in Abu Dhabi.
The Dutchman recalled his initial reaction: “Wow, that’s quite different in a way”, adding that he was “quite happy with I think the direction that they chose”.
Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez added: “You wouldn’t imagine us changing the concept as much and I think it’s really brave from Red Bull to do that.”
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Red Bull showcases new RB20 contender for 2024 F1 season F1i.com.
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