If there's any truth to the rumors that RB have developed something like a zeropod, then the first order of business for spectators is to make the concept work. RB will be demanding a better class of aero concept. So: how to do that? My proposition is simple. It entails a rethink of the floor regulations, and the return of an old friend to RB: rake. The simple proposition is to return to a flat or semi-flat floor and run the car with rake.
A flat or flatter floor means you lower the front floor edge and you might even eliminate the front floor ramp entirely, which means you largely eliminate the purpose of the large fully outwashing floor fences, which would then reduce the value of wide outwashing sidepods whose purpose are primarily to enhance the effectiveness of the fences. There are a few main reasons why the W13 concept didn't work that I'm unable to discuss here, but if you're interested in my views on that feel free to PM me.
Quick sketch below of an RB20 with flat(ter) floor and an emptied sidepod region. I would expect a full trailing body behind the crash-structure/"mid-wing" which will contain heat exchangers. Moving all of the heat exchangers above the engine might be possible but it entails a large shift in the CoG, but that isn't always an eliminating factor. Rake raised CoG, f.e. In this sketch, the shark mouth sidepod inlet is intended to be retained, as is the vertical slot beside it.
The question is whether you can claw back enough DF from rake and/or unique floor shapes which do not require over-floor outwash accentuation.
