RB Set to Unravel Mystery of Underperforming Formula 1 Upgrade Package in Austria
As the Formula 1 calendar moves to the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing is poised to tackle the challenge of understanding why its highly-anticipated Spain upgrade package failed to deliver the desired results. The Italian squad, currently sixth in the Formula 1 standings, aimed to close the gap with Aston Martin in the points with its comprehensive updates. However, the team’s Formula 1 cars underperformed at Barcelona, with Daniel Ricciardo finishing 15th and Yuki Tsunoda coming in 19th, leaving them without any points.
In an effort to resolve the issue, Ricciardo revealed that the team will take a unique approach to the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, with both drivers running in split specifications to identify the root cause of the problem. This experiment will see Ricciardo run a selection of new parts in practice, while Tsunoda will test other components, blended with a series of new parts specifically designed for the Red Bull Ring round. This strategy is expected to provide valuable insights into the performance of the upgraded Formula 1 cars.
“There are still some questions for sure, but are we convinced that the upgrade was a flop? No, we’re not,” he stated. “Yuki and I are going to start with different set-ups. It’s a combination of everything and because we’re still trying to figure it out.”
The Australian driver acknowledged that the sprint weekend format poses an added challenge, but remains optimistic about finding a solution.
“We’ll start different [Friday] morning and hopefully learn a bit from practice and then kind of merge for the sprint quali. But yeah, we’re not chucking anything in the bin yet; there is still no firm conclusions I’d say.”
Tsunoda echoed Ricciardo’s sentiments, revealing that the data from the Spanish GP showed the expected improvements from the new parts, but ultimately failed to translate to better performance on the track. The Japanese driver described the situation as a “bit of a mystery” and hopes that a clear explanation will emerge after the sole practice session at the Red Bull Ring.
As Formula 1 today enters a crucial phase, Red Bull Racing is determined to unlock the secrets of its underperforming upgrade package and get back on track in the Formula 1 championship. With a thorough investigation underway, the team is poised to learn valuable lessons from the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, which could have a significant impact on its Formula 1 tyre strategy and overall performance moving forward.
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