Formula 1: Verstappen’s Secret Imola Test Aims to Tackle Red Bull’s Kerb Riding Woes
In a surprise move, Max Verstappen conducted a private test in a 2022 Formula 1 car at Imola this week, just days ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. The Dutch driver, who completed promotional work in France on Tuesday, traveled to Imola on Wednesday to put the RB18 through its paces, before heading to Barcelona for Thursday’s media day.
Tackling a Persistent Problem
While Formula 1 teams frequently conduct private tests, this one was unique in its purpose. It was not a routine test for young drivers or a filming day, but rather a deliberate effort by Red Bull to tackle a persistent problem that has hindered their performance in recent races: kerb riding.
The RB20’s characteristics, which struggle with soft running, have left the team exposed at tracks like Imola, Monaco, and Montreal, where drivers need to be quick over kerbs to be competitive. Although this weakness is not new, it has become more critical with rival teams closing the gap, making every fraction of a second count.
“If it was easy, we might have already done it. It’s not going to be easy. But I look at other cars, and they don’t look like they ride the kerbs. They hit something, and it launches the thing in the air. We do the same. The question is, can we make a big enough improvement to be quicker than our opposition?”
Unlocking Understanding Through Testing
By testing the 2022 car at Imola, Verstappen and Red Bull aimed to gain a better understanding of the scale of the problem and identify areas for improvement. The test provided a valuable reference point, allowing the team to compare the RB20’s performance to its predecessor and pinpoint where things have gone wrong.
Red Bull’s chief engineer, Paul Monaghan, explained that the test was designed to give Verstappen a reference point to judge the current car’s strengths and weaknesses. “We tried to give Max a reference from a previous car,” Monaghan said. “His feedback won’t change, we can just give him a different reference.”
Commitment to Finding a Solution
The test was not about finding an instant solution, but rather about unlocking an understanding of the driver’s feedback and pinpointing areas for improvement. As Monaghan noted, “If it was easy, we might have already done it. It’s not going to be easy.”
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko believes that Verstappen’s victory at Imola last month owed more to the driver’s brilliance than the strengths of the RB20. “In Imola, we won, but we only won that because of Max and his qualities,” Marko said. “We had some serious problems with the handling there. Even if you have an older car, it still helps to simulate things and find what was the problem there with the kerbs and handling.”
As the Formula 1 season unfolds, Red Bull’s determination to solve their kerb riding issues will be crucial in their bid for success. The Imola test may not have provided a eureka moment, but it demonstrates the team’s commitment to finding a solution to this complex problem.
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