Red Bull’s Balance Woes Continue in Italian Grand Prix Qualifying, Wing Levels a Major Concern

Red Bull Racing remains perplexed by the balance problems that plagued its qualifying performance at the Italian Grand Prix, but one area where the team acknowledges it went wrong is with its wing levels.

The rear wing concept used by Red Bull at Monza, featuring an intriguing wavy top flap, may have garnered attention, but it is not a bespoke solution tailored to the circuit’s demands. This is evident in the speed trap figures from qualifying, where Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were left lagging behind, posting speeds of 347.2km/h and 346.8km/h respectively.

In contrast, Fernando Alonso topped the speed charts with 353.5km/h, while Lando Norris of McLaren managed 349km/h. The disparity in speed can be attributed to Red Bull’s decision not to develop a bespoke Monza wing, unlike its rivals.

The team opted to trim down its lowest downforce choice, which is still above what is needed for Monza, instead of creating a specialized wing for the Italian circuit. Verstappen explained that the decision was influenced by the cost cap, as the expense of designing a wing for a single track was deemed not worth it.

Designing a bespoke wing is a resource-intensive process, involving CFD design, wind tunnel testing, and manufacturing. Furthermore, it may not be used again for the rest of the season, making it a costly investment. However, with the addition of Las Vegas to the calendar, the wing may see use again.

Red Bull’s limited CFD and wind tunnel runs, due to its championship position, also played a role in its decision. Instead, the team modified its existing lowest downforce rear wing by trimming the upper flap, incorporating two extreme crescent-shaped cutouts.

Although this concept may have raised eyebrows, it is not new, having been tested during FP2 in Belgium on Verstappen’s RB20. The team employed a similar approach last season, albeit with an angular cutout.

To balance out the aero front-to-rear, Red Bull also made adjustments to its front wing, removing sections of the upper flap’s trailing edge to reduce downforce and drag. The team has been experimenting with different specifications to unlock further performance from the RB20.

In conclusion, Red Bull’s struggles in Monza qualifying have highlighted the need for a revised approach for the Italian Grand Prix next year. As Verstappen acknowledged, “We have never had a special Monza wing or a special Monza package in recent years. But, in the last couple of years, our car was still good enough to compensate for that. But this might be something that we have to do differently for next year.“

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