TimW wrote: ↑21 Dec 2022, 11:59
carisi2k wrote: ↑15 Dec 2022, 22:48
1. Red Bull - The RB18 can easily evolve in to the RB19 and it has 15kg of weight improvement before anything aerodynamic is done. The 15mm raise in the floor to the reference plain is a non issue since that is where Red Bull have been running there car in 2022. We know that they might also have a power unit advantage as well.
This is not the case. If RB would keep running their floor edges at the same height, that would mean that the plank would be 15mm closer to the track and they would be constantly bottoming. It will force them to compromise and run their floor edge higher, just as the others.
Of course it could be that their floor aero is less sensitive to a change of the edge height than other cars, but we do not know.
I never said they would keep running there floor at the same height. I said it isn't as big a deal for Red Bull as they seem to be able to aero seal there floor even at the increased ride heights they run at.
Of course red bull were upset at the 25mm height rule change because they built a 22 car that had sidepods, no flexing floor or plank, no porpoising and was the equal to or fastest car all year especially in a straight line.
Weight reduction will be the main thing they will look in to making the RB19 the fastest rocket in 2023. The new airbox crash test regs might make this difficult to achieve and if this new lightweight chassis can pass the crash tests then lok out everybody else. I suspect some tidying up of certain things on the RB19 to make it a little trimmer then the RB18 and this is why they should still be number 1 in 2023.
Ferrari and Mercedes will be the fight for second place in 2023. Ferrari have new management but shouldn't have too much to change with there new car other then sorting out reliability and tyre life. Obviously look to more fine tuning of the package and I expect it to be near the new 795kg limit for 2023. This is something I don't expect Red Bull or Mercedes to be at the start of the year.
Mercedes have a whole bunch of issues for 23 to sort out.
1. The Floor. They are going to have to put some extra weight in to the floor to get it to meet the new rigidity regulations.How are they going to seal the floor without the flexing floor they had in 22 and the small pod?
2. Sidepod. Will they stick with the small pod and mid wing and how will they control the air and reduce the drag this design has. I suspect that they may make the mid wing in to a mid fairing that connects to the small pod to allow better control of the air but we shall see.
3. Suspension. Will they stick with what they had or go down the red bull route. They also have the suspension travel issues which made the car extremely difficult on bumpy tracks which means for sure they will be bringing a new rear end but will it be push or pull rod?
4. Front wing. The innovative winglet design which allowed some outwash from the front wing has now been banned. While they do have a normal design it still removes a feature which assisted them in there performance uptick at the end of the 22 season.
5. Weight. Will they be able to get under the weight limit. While they weren't as heavy as Red Bull they are going to have to have a heavier floor to meet the new floor regs. In addition to the new airbox regs this could mean the W14 is still overweight in 23.
All teams also have to deal with the new airbox tests which are a result of the first corner silverstone crash as well.
This is why I put down my pecking order as Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
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