The first day of pre-season testing is always one of the most interesting of the year, particularly to understand what type of work the teams have planned. The early hours of testing are typically dedicated to verifying aerodynamic correlation between the track and the factory, as well as experimenting with different setups to see how the car reacts.
It is precisely in this area that Red Bull has focused much of its attention. The RB21 appears visually very similar to its predecessor, despite the issues the RB20 faced in 2024. In a press conference, Christian Horner explained this similarity by pointing out not only how teams’ designs are converging but also how Red Bull’s design philosophy has remained unchanged.
However, when it comes to the RB21, appearances can be deceiving. Red Bull’s team principal clarified that the real innovations are not immediately visible, leading to two key points: first, the engineers prioritized key areas like the floor and mechanical components, and second, the major interventions were not needed on the upper aerodynamic surfaces of the car.
In 2024, the RB20 showed clear balance issues due to gaps in the aerodynamic map, making the car unstable and unpredictable in certain phases of a corner. With the RB21, work has been done to make the car easier to read not only for the drivers but also for the engineers.
The areas of improvement are interconnected: ride height management, floor performance, and suspension stiffness. This is why Christian Horner referred to changes that are not visible, particularly regarding the complex cooling system under the engine cover. Finding the right compromise is not always easy, especially if it leads to efficiency losses. The 2024 Qatar Grand Prix demonstrated how small mechanical adjustments could significantly impact the RB20’s performance, as it sometimes struggled with a lack of aerodynamic load compared to rivals.
All these factors were considered in developing the RB21, almost as if the main goal was to extract the full potential of the 2024 car, from which Red Bull believed there was still more to gain. Analyzing the first day of testing, Helmut Marko immediately displayed great confidence, highlighting not only the competitiveness of their long runs but also how the car responded to changes as expected.
“Our long runs were really competitive, maybe even the fastest. The car is more predictable and reacts to changes normally. So, I think all the issues we had last year have either improved or perhaps been solved. Now it has a wider operating range and is more predictable for the drivers,” the Red Bull advisor told Motorsport.com at the end of the first day of testing.
Marko also shared Max Verstappen’s initial feedback after the afternoon session, during which he completed 74 laps, making him one of the most active drivers of the day. Looking at his program provides insight into where Red Bull focused its attention.
The four-time world champion completed five very similar runs in the afternoon: two push laps followed by a cooldown lap, then a pit stop. After a short stay in the pit lane, Verstappen typically completed stints of 8 to 10 laps depending on the tire compound, using both the C2 and C3.
This pattern was repeated five times, suggesting that Red Bull’s plan was to make multiple setup adjustments between runs to understand how the car responded in similar conditions.
“Max’s feedback is positive. The car now gives better sensations, and when changes are made, it reacts as expected. On his fast lap, Max could have done better, but that doesn’t matter. The long runs were very good, impressive,” Helmut Marko added.
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