Red Bull RB8 Renault

[RB7ate9]

The 1st practice sees Webber with B-Spec, while Vettel has exhausts super tight to the center line (exhausts exits are butt up to the coke bottle). It looks like a variation on the A-spec.

His speed 297.8 kph through the trap. Hasn't done a full lap yet.

Webber has set 1:39.558.

3:43a GMT

Vettel does not appear to have the central pillar.

Edited for Poor Temporal Maths

[Crucial_Xtreme]

New RB8 Rear Wing

[banibhusan]

Are they using this new pillar to activate the DRS flap?

[Hail22]

Are they using this new pillar to activate the DRS flap?

Yes, or so Ted Kravitz reckons!

[satlan]

Are they using this new pillar to activate the DRS flap?

According to Ted, yes it does. But they were acting like this was something new, but didn't Williams or Mclaren do this last year?

[Ferraripilot]

It looks as if the second element is slightly larger as well. Wonder why they went with a central pylon to activate DRS...... perhaps they didn't want any of the changing hydraulic mechanism that high?

[Crucial_Xtreme]

It looks as if the second element is slightly larger as well. Wonder why they went with a central pylon to activate DRS...... perhaps they didn't want any of the changing hydraulic mechanism that high?

Kravitz suggests CoG gain.

[rayden]

99% of what comes out of ted's mouth is garbage
take it with a bucket of salt.

[Lycoming]

centre pylon was pretty common in at least the first half of last year. Not really good to have all sorts of stuff going on on the low pressure side of a wing though.

[bhall]

Indeed. Ferrari started with such a solution, but binned it pretty quickly in favor of Red Bull's solution. Weird to now see the ol' switcheroo.

But, it does make a little sense with the longer chord of the flap. The "pod," or whatever it's called, would interfere with the air flow to a place they're clearly trying to enhance.

I highly doubt it has anything to do with CoG, though.

EDIT: Come to think of it, Ferrari made that switch when they introduced a rear wing with a short-chord flap. That strongly suggests they're related.

[RB7ate9]

Webber is running the pillar under the RW. Odd. 1:38.977.

What are the regulations regarding the size of materials beneath the rear wing? It's not big enough, I don't think, to act as some additional yaw-control surface.

[raymondu999]

Come to think of it, Ferrari made that switch when they introduced a rear wing with a short-chord flap. That strongly suggests they're related.

Same thing with McLaren.

Merc started off last year already with their hidden actuator though.

Anyone have shots of the 2 sidepod specs?

[bhall]

Might see more teams go to a Mercedes setup, too. I think all of these longer chords are being introduced because Daffy Ducts erase the penalty they inflict on DRS efficiency. So, if they've got thick end plates anyway, might as well shove a servo or two in there as well.

[ringo]

The car is quite good. I don't know how good the drivers are.
Webber had many fastest laps at malaysia. This car is not slow by any means.

To be knocking on the podium with only mclaren faster than you is definitely not a failure.

The car simply doesn't have the qualy pace it used to. It also seems last year's car spoiled the drivers. Vettel is saying it's not easy to drive for some reason.

China will show that the car is still good, though i think they need a better exhuast solution or a reversion.

Hmm i think redbull need better conditions to compare the two solutions. I think the older is more predictable and consistent. The newer one is probably better for raw downforce numbers, as Webber is showing. However i think the old exhaust is probably a better choice in Vettel's case.

[Forza]

RB8 had the center pillar at some point at winter testing.