In the past few races, Ferrari and McLaren have caught up, and in some cases, passed, the Red Bull team in the development race. Isn't it time Red Bull start planning some updates. I found an article (will post link when i find it) that said that this years RB7 is a mild update of last years dominant RB6. For the more technologically gifted posters, i was wondering if this would hinder red bull's car development, as they have an older base to work with, whereas McLaren and Ferrari have entirely new cars, created at the start of this season, which makes it easier to adjust any issues or faulty parts. My reasoning is that the RB6 was developed to the max last year, so maybe there are no better parts to go on this years car. Could somebody with knowledge of the technical side of F1 please clarify this.
They have the potential to gain pole as Webber proved, it's that every thing has to be at it's optimum to gain it, which is very hard in F1.
So Red Bull have dominated the season in a car that is far older than everybody elses. Shows how badly the drivers messed up last year.
Red Bull were always going to be caught for the simple fact that they had less scope for development than the others. It's like McLaren in 2009, they wouldn't have gained two seconds over the season if they'd started with a race winning car. The ultimate pace of the cars are restricted by what the tyres can take, eventually all the teams will zero in on a similar pace.
But last year, they were caught during the middle of the season, and found another level. Is this likely to happen this year, or have they "zeroed in on a similar pace" (liked that, good wording) meaning that the top 3 teams will be scrapping all year, until mercedes eventually join them on that pace too?
The RB was certainly the class of the field at the start of the season and it makes perfect sense to stick with such a fantastic chassis even if it doesn't have the same development potential over the course of a season. RB have established such a lead that they can afford to pull a Brawn and simply pick up points for the rest of 2011 (though I don't see happening). The other thing that they have on their side is superb reliability with the RB7. It's proved itself to be bulletproof this year... Something that you don't always expect with a Newey car. One other thing that may play in to the hands of RB is that if they can maintain a comfortable lead for the next couple of races, they can begin to focus on 2012 and just cruise home to victory.
I get the feeling that they'll probably just evolve the RB7 into the RB8. It's like pokemon, where one thing evolves into another.
Last year they were still developing the blown diffuser and they introduced the F-Duct round about midseason. I'd guess Red Bull are approaching the peak of what the car is capable of, the changes they can make are relatively limited; a new slot in the end fence, an extra turning vane on the brake ducts, eking out hundredths rather than tenths. Before the regulation change Ferrari and McLaren were able to keep their advantage by adding new wings and fins and bits to the bodywork, but the new regs don't allow for that kind of thing, every year they seem to close off an avenue of development to bunch the cars up.
