Red Bull Unveils Updated Floor at Formula 1 British Grand Prix to Counter Rivals
In a bid to maintain its competitiveness in the Formula 1 standings, Red Bull has introduced an updated floor at the British Grand Prix, as it faces increasing pressure from Mercedes and McLaren. The Milton Keynes-based team, which started the season in dominant fashion, has seen its advantage dwindle in recent weeks as its rivals have brought their own upgrades to the table.
Ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Red Bull has notified the FIA of two key changes to its floor, designed to enhance its performance. The team has reprofiled the surface of its floor above and behind the lower Side Impact Structure tube, a move aimed at increasing energy and pressure to the floor edge wing. This change is based on research and comparison with full-scale results.
“Given the higher pressure upstream, the team has subtly changed the edge wing detail to achieve this goal.”
In conjunction with the floor surface changes, Red Bull has also reprofiled the edge wing, incorporating new details to add more camber and derive more load while maintaining flow stability.
However, Red Bull’s main challengers, Mercedes and McLaren, are not resting on their laurels. Both teams have brought revised wings to the British GP, seeking to gain an edge in the Formula 1 standings. Mercedes has introduced a lower-downforce mid-range rear wing, designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency for the high-speed sections of Silverstone. The team has also trimmed its front wing flap, reducing load to ensure optimal aero balance.
Meanwhile, McLaren has brought a lower-downforce rear wing to reduce drag, and is experimenting with three different load beam wings to optimize downforce and drag levels at the rear of the car. The Woking-based team has also introduced new bodywork featuring an additional cooling exit in its engine cover to increase flow.
As the Formula 1 season reaches its midpoint, the battle for supremacy is heating up. With Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren all bringing significant upgrades to the British Grand Prix, the stage is set for a thrilling race at Silverstone. Will Red Bull’s updated floor be enough to stave off the challenge from its rivals, or will Mercedes and McLaren’s revisions pay off? Only time will tell.
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