Mercedes Aims to Unravel Mystery of Red Bull RB20 Feature

4 months ago By Walter Thompson

Mercedes is trying to unravel the mystery of an interesting feature of the Red Bull RB20, as admitted by technical director James Allison. The new design adopted by Red Bull for the 2024 Formula 1 season has excited the teams’ curious rivals, and Mercedes is delighted to better understand the RB20’s unique cooling system.

Red Bull has surprised the Formula 1 paddock by taking a different approach this season following the overwhelming success of the RB19, which took it to 21 of 22 victories last season. An area of particular interest is the RB20 cooling system, with Mercedes leading the way in how the new design works in practice.

Mercedes technical director James Allison expressed his willingness to invite Red Bull to the garage to take a closer look at the RB20. He noted that the way the team plans to cool the RB20 doesn’t look “light and elegant,” and his curiosity is particularly focused on understanding the reasoning behind the design decision.

While Mercedes has also introduced a unique approach to the W15’s front wing using the ‘old thread’, an innovation praised for ensuring compliance with FIA regulations, the focus is on Red Bull breaking the RB20. Allison emphasized that the RB20’s cooling method is distinctly different and expressed Mercedes’ interest in exploring the purpose behind this innovative choice.

In an interview on Sky Sports F1 with Ted Kravitz, Allison shared his desire to learn more about the Red Bull RB20, especially under the hood. He emphasized that Red Bull’s approach to the cooling system is unique, pointing out that the team wants to achieve something specific with this distinctive configuration.

While the competitive environment of Formula 1 often forces teams to discover their rivals’ innovations over time, the introduction of new cars always creates uncertainty when analyzing designs. Allison emphasized that Red Bull’s approach is unique, suggesting that the team is trying to achieve something specific with this distinctive cooling setup.

The 2024 season will soon start in Bahrain and Allison said that while Red Bull leads early on, Mercedes is determined to chase and improve throughout the year. Fierce competition is expected, with all teams looking to improve on last season.

Formula 1 starts in Bahrain next weekend, and the focus will be on how different design approaches and innovations will impact team performance in the exciting season ahead. Trying to understand Red Bull’s RB20 adds a fascinating layer to the story as Mercedes prepares to unravel the mystery behind its rival’s car’s unique features.