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Monday saw Aston Martin Red Bull release the first pictures of its brand new RB14, just before the car was sent out on a wet Silverstone track for a shakedown and filming opportunity.
it indeed is a MAJOR part, and I too don't think they are actually going to drop it altogether (or even partially at all), that that was a serious "test" but I cannot think of a real valid reason do drive around like that! So what I could think is along these lines; as last year they had correlation problems due to overestimating the drag as these wider cars are closer to the wind tunnel edge. Maybe now they just wanted to test without this "optional" part as to mimic last years very bare car to see if they indeed lose the grip levels these appendices offer. Just to be sure, if the program was going well already (like it seems to be).astracrazy wrote: ↑26 Feb 2018, 17:52I don't think they are being secretive but I would also be very surprised if they put running with or without a major (i would class it as that) part based on the drivers feel at this stage. Maybe later in the season but not first day of testing when the whole car is going to feel new. If they were testing that, I'd expect to see some pitot tubes somewhere and more than one lap.Sieper wrote: ↑26 Feb 2018, 14:06I don't think they are being secretive, earlier this morning (see pics a bit more up) they had the whole package on.
I think they just want confirmation from the driver (Ricci) if indeed the car feels less planted without the flow conditioners in place (as they cost drag, and if Ricci feels fine without them maybe an alternative solution can also be found). Just testing I guess.
I see what Enrique Scalabroni was talking about with the halo now. It is going to be very important.
He talked about the rake of the RB14 being high enough to avoid problems with the airbox. Do you think this is the reason why Mercedes and Ferrari (escpecially Mercedes) have bigger air intakes?
Just my observation but the paint on the halo - am I correct in assuming from the way the paint has been flowing that it looks like they are using the halo to push the air around the cockpit and feed it along the sides of the car?
I think that down the side is just overspill, its just run off at low speed, not sure though.digitalrurouni wrote: ↑27 Feb 2018, 21:09Just my observation but the paint on the halo - am I correct in assuming from the way the paint has been flowing that it looks like they are using the halo to push the air around the cockpit and feed it along the sides of the car?
I think the difference with the Red bull chassis is that even down on power & released with compromised aero... it was still the 3rd quickest carShakeman wrote: ↑26 Feb 2018, 16:16I've long held the belief that if a Marussia car had been rolled out in RB livery it would've been hailed as next level.
Last year the RB hailed as being refined and an exercise in simplification, it turned out not to be the case and Newey had missed a trick and was playing catch up through the season.
The next level stuff on these cars are the intricate bargeboards chasing marginal upon marginal gains which no one with the best will in the world can tell which is the better solution. These cars are like Star Trek aliens, they all look the same but have different colours with a bit of uncertainty around the forehead.
