Pre-season Formula One testing gives no definitive answers as to which team has done the best job over the winter in designer their new car. McLaren appear to be most peoples favourites although they have taken a similar route as did Red Bull between 2023/24.

Red Bull keen not to allow the rest of the field to close the gap following their record breaking 2023, decided to make significant changes for their 2024 RB20. One of the bis evolutions from the RB19 was the repositioning of the internal cooling systems which had huge implications for the arrangement of the rest of the components around it.

And across the first ten Grand Prix weekends last season, Red Bull looked strong, with Max Verstappen winning seven of the ten GP’s and losing only in Australia when brake failures forced him to retire from the lead.

 

 

 

McLaren follow Red Bull’s lead

McLaren have done something similar this year in terms of making substantial changes to their constructors’ title winning MCL38. The most obvious is the repositioning of the front suspension. While the team have retained the pul rod system, the two wishbones and steering arms have been totally repositioned in an attempt to improve the anti-drive characteristics of the car.

The current ground effect Formula One cars gain around 40% of their downforce from the negative air pressure created under the floor. Just as an aircraft uses this to create lift, the F1 cars use it to create a suction effect towards the ground. To effect this as best as possible, the underfloor Venturi channels aim to create a seal of air around the edges of the floor, which allows the air pressure to remain constant.

Early versions of the 2022 ground effect cars were seen to bounce, or porpoise a lot. This was because the air seal was being repeatedly broken and then resealing. The cause of the problems lay with the platform of the car not remaining relatively level.

As in a road car, when a driver brakes hard, the nose of the car dips towards the ground as the suspension gives some play. The same happens in an F1 car, but with the ground defect cars requiring more stability, this means creating an anti-dive mechanism.

McLaren are now the off track Red Bull bitter rivals

 

 

 

Radical new McLaren suspension 

The new 2025 McLaren F1 car by moving the wishbones and steering arms has created the potential for even more of an anti-dive potential. However, this is not without risk given the lack of give in the suspension requires creates more load and for that much stronger components are required.

Making the various components stronger, will usually mean more weight is required and as Alpine found out to their cost at the start of 2024, weight is no friend of speed. Red Bull technical director, Pierre Wache, suggests to the Race that Mclaren have taken something off a gamble with their new suspension.

“The suspension of the McLaren is very interesting – in terms of kinematics. And one aspect is the anti-dive. It is very high. It is quite a risky kinematic for me. If they can make it work, it will be interesting,” he said. When asked to clarify what he meant by “risky”, Wache replied “In terms of the load on the suspension legs and everything.”

As happened with Red Bull last year, these big changes by McLaren may work well in the early parts of the season, but should they hit a development wall, another whole new suspension will not be possible if only for cost cap reasons.

Steiner insight to Horner hatred

 

 

 

Newey replacement admits work to do

Meanwhile Red Bull didn’t set the world on fire at the Bahrain test two weeks ago and they appeared to be struggling to find the operating windows for the RB21. As Christian Horner revealed there are a n umber of upgrades for the car in the pipeline, but until the team are happy they understand how best to set up the car in its current configuration, future upgrades are pointless.

All eyes on on Pierre Wache of Red Bull, given this is the first F1 car in nineteen year’s without some kind of input from Adrian Newey. Post the Bahrain test, Wache admitted the progress made over the winter was not quite where the team felt it would be.

“I am not as happy as I could be because the car did not respond how we wanted at times, but it is going in the right direction, just maybe the magnitude of the direction was not as big as we expected, and it’s something we need to work on for the first race and future development,”  said the RBR technical director.

At first glance the RB21 looked very similar to its predecessor, yet as Christian Horner assured the assembled media, the changes for 2025 are in fact numerous. Of course this means there is a lengthy learning curve for the team’s engineers, rather than them merely picking up from where they left off last season.

Audi accept they need a UK base

 

 

 

Verstappen backed to match Schumacher record

The car is definitely ”less peaky” according to Verstappen which will pay dividends once the team understand the different setups required for varying circuit layouts and weather conditions.

Of course coming Red Bull’s way are the new regulations regarding flexing which arrive in time for the Spanish Grand Prix. Given that Red Bull never mastered the flexi wings as did McLaren and Ferrari it cold be once they return to a more Red Bull type design, much of their competitive advantage is gone.

Red Bull may be playing the long game in 2025, although Max Verstappen will give it all from the moment the cars hit the track for Friday practice in Melbourne. Even with clearly the fastest car form Miami onwards, Lando Norris was unable to match the feats of the world champion and will have to raise his game even if McLaren have the quicker car in 2025.

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Max Verstappen will go on to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive driver titles this year. Schumacher is the only driver ever to have achieved this given Lewis Hamilton’s run of six championships was interrupted by that pesky Nico Rosberg in 2016.

Even without the best car, Max can do things no other driver does at present and this is the challenge for Norris who will need to up his game if he wants his first F1 drivers’ championship.

Marko exit & confirms legal case

 

 

 

Honda on the back foot with 2026 engine and Tsunoda to go it alone

Honda have a habit of ditching their F1 adventures at relatively short notice, then deciding other wise at a later date. They famously sold their team with the 2009 car designed and constructed to Ross Brawn for £1. The Brit then branded it Brawn GP and negotiated nine months salaries from Honda, as redundancy pay for the staff.

With meagre sponsorship from Virgin and a few others, Brawn GP set about revolutionising the modern F1 pecking order as they stormed to both championships, with Jenson Button claiming the drivers honours that season.

The Japanese manufacturer decided in 2021 that they would not be taking part in Formula One when the new power unit designs came into force in 2026. Red Bull dutifully poached key engineers from their staff for the Red Bull Powertrain programme designed to replace Honda…. READ MORE