Helmut Marko Admits Concerns on RB20’s Side Pod: “[Mercedes] Were Also Convinced With the Data…..Didn’t Work at All”

Mercedes was the talk of the F1 town when they introduced their 2022 challenger, the W13, for the aggressive zero-side pod design. Based on the simulator and win-tunnel data, the team was convinced that the concept had a lot of potential. However, it turned out to be a flawed concept as the virtual world data didn’t correlate with the real-world performance at all and Mercedes failed to unlock the full potential of the car. Now Red Bull has decided to adopt a similar design philosophy with the RB20 under the guidance of Adrian Newey. But Helmut Marko isn’t convinced if it’ll work or not.

Red Bull caught the attention of Formula 1 experts after the launch of the RB20 for the bold design concept on the side profile of the car, especially the engine cover, which is reminiscent of the design used by the W14 in 2023. The team also shifted to an overbite-style sidepod inlet compared to the under-bite concept they used last season, something a lot of other teams have adapted to from the RB19. But will Red Bull succeed where Mercedes failed?

Helmut Marko is unsure if they can successfully adapt the Mercedes-style sidepod

While the RB20 already reminds us of the W14 design philosophy, there are rumors that the team might introduce even more extreme solutions to their new sidepod design for races in cooler conditions in the early part of the season, This move could be aimed at further reducing airflow to the radiators, in the hopes of enhancing aerodynamic performance. However, while these design choices have attracted significant attention, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko remains cautious of this new approach.

“They [Mercedes] were also convinced by the data of their sidepod-less concept, but in practice, it didn’t work at all. We will now see in the tests whether we can successfully implement this solution, or let’s say a similar solution. We don’t have it as extreme [as Mercedes], but we have it in a similar direction in terms of the idea,” said Dr. Marko as reported by Autosport.

He also emphasizes the importance of upcoming testing sessions in Bahrain to determine whether Red Bull can successfully implement its own interpretation of this design philosophy. He also acknowledged that Adrian Newey has long wanted to implement a design that minimizes the need for traditional radiators. However, the engine’s cooling requirements limit the extent to which this vision can be used practically.

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While the RB20’s side pods remain a topic of discussion, Mercedes has yet again caught the attention of the paddock for its extreme front wing design.

FIA has passed it’s on the Mercedes front wing

The launch of the W15 left quite a few F1 experts scratching their heads about the legality of the front wing design. It features a unique configuration where the second and fourth flaps of the front wing appear to be connected by a piece of bodywork that looks like a wire. Many speculated on whether the design was compatible with the intended “spirit” of the rules to reduce turbulent airflow.

However, according to a recent report from Formu1a.uno, the FIA has given the green light to the Mercedes front wing, officially confirming that it conforms to the current Formula 1 regulations. It seems like Mercedes has come up with a clever design that is reminiscent of the concept of the Y250 vortex, an aerodynamic technique aimed at boosting performance by directing airflow across the car’s underbody.

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As more and more teams are trying to copy the mighty RB19, Red Bull has possibly upped their game a notch. But will Andrian Newey be able to make the Mercedes-style sidepod concept work?