Big Blow to Max Verstappen & Co. as Red Bull Becomes the Only Failure in the Entire Grid in Recent FIA Tests

Getting to the top step in Formula 1 is difficult as it is for a team. But staying at the top once you get there is even more so. Are we now seeing the first chink in the armor of Red Bull after two dominating seasons in a row with the racing prodigy Max Verstappen, who clinched victory in 19 out of the 22 races in 2023? The reported failure of RB20 in an FIA crash test might give us a hint.

In a troublesome outcome for the Red Bull Racing team and their star driver Max Verstappen, the highly anticipated RB20 has reportedly hit a roadblock in its quest for continued Formula 1 dominance (according to Motorsport Italia). The FIA’s dynamic frontal homologation test at Cranfield revealed a potential flaw in the car’s design, casting doubts on its unveiling around February 10th. This setback marks Red Bull as the only failure in recent FIA tests, raising questions about the team’s winter break progress and the impact on their 2024 campaign.

What went wrong with RB20 and what’s the play for Red Bull moving ahead?

The crash test, a crucial step in ensuring the safety and structural integrity of F1 cars, revealed a significant issue with the car’s nose. A report from Motorsport Italia suggests that the nose failed to absorb crash energy adequately, pointing to a potential flaw in the pursuit of weight reduction considering the RB-19 exceeded the 798kg minimum weight limit in the 2023 season.

With the looming threat of FIA’s disapproval of the chassis, Red Bull now faces the challenge of rectifying the issues with the RB20. The team plans a retest, incorporating an extra layer of carbon skin to address the concerns raised in the failed crash test. The outcome of this second attempt will determine the impact on the overall development of the car.

Team principal Christian Horner and Chief Technology Officer Adrian Newey now face the challenge of salvaging the situation after the significant blow to their 2024 challenger. The reported failure raises questions about the need for Red Bull Racing to revisit the drawing board, potentially impacting their design for the upcoming season.

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Dominant as Red Bull was in 2023, Max Verstappen had pointed out a few flaws in RB19 despite its status as the most dominant Formula 1 car ever.

Max Verstappen highlighted where the RB20 needed to improve

Red Bull won all but one race in 2023, the Singapore Grand Prix. The setback in Singapore, where Carlos Sainz claimed victory, showcased the team’s struggles in fine-tuning ride height settings and navigating challenging circuits. And Max Verstappen was quick to point out these struggles.

“It helps if we know what direction we are working in,” Max said in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com. He pointed out, “Mainly I think just street circuits and low-speed, kerbing. These kinds of things, I think we are not the best at the moment.” Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Wache, echoes Verstappen’s assessment, acknowledging the team’s challenges in low-speed situations and on tracks with demanding kerbs.

Wache emphasizes the delicate balance Red Bull faces in addressing weaknesses without compromising the car’s inherent strengths. “You can improve the overall potential of something. But most of the time it’s also affecting some other aspect of the car,” said Wache.

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Do you think the failed crash test will set the Milton Keynes squad back or is it just a minor hiccup? Share your insights with us in the comments down below.