Mclaren breaks down ‘certain advantages’ Max Verstappen’s Red Bull has going into 2024 

According to McLaren’s team principal, Red Bull will have a safety buffer at the beginning of the season.

Mclaren breaks down ‘certain advantages’ Max Verstappen’s Red Bull has going into 2024 

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

The last three Formula One seasons are marked by the absolute dominance of Red Bull and their superstar driver Max Verstappen. They have won three titles and over 40 races in the period with 2023 being their most successful and record-breaking year. They won 21 of the 22 races held in the season, while Verstappen achieved multiple career milestones.

Red Bull’s rivals McLaren, who came the closest to matching the team on a normal race week, expect this dominance to continue for at least the start of the season. McLaren team principal, Andrea Stella, has pointed out that Red Bull will finally be able to unlock the development accumulated in recent months under a regime of restrictions ahead of 2024 and it will give them a big advantage over its rivals.

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I think that at the beginning of the season, Red Bull continues to enjoy a certain advantage. I say this because they did not develop the car much last year and I think it is reasonable to expect that they have accumulated, let's say, some knowledge and development last year that will be capitalized on the 2024 car. That's my expectation.
Andrea Stella said, as reported by formulapassion.it

Having said that, the team principal at McLaren feels that the team will be well-positioned for the upcoming season if they maintain the same pace of development as the previous one. According to him, they will see if they are ready to challenge Red Bull, but they have made significant progress. 

Red Bull’s new RB20 is aggressive 

This year Red Bull has made a lot of additions to their new RB20. The upgrades only make their new car more aggressive. Red Bull has used a unique aerodynamic philosophy, and advances made in radiator technology are allowing the coolers to be more compressed for the same heat-rejecting capacity.

Christian Horner and Max Verstappen
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO). Red Bull RB-20 (Via @PaulBridgen/X)

The upright radiator inlet in the Red Bull RB20 is a distinctive design feature that minimizes surface area. It looks similar to the original Zero sidepod Mercedes of 2022 but is used differently. Red Bull retains the side pods and uses the vertical inlet to create a large undercut at the front.

To improve the underfloor component’s performance, the upper bodywork has undergone a drastic overhaul. This has produced a stronger airflow around the side pods and floor edges, which should terrify opponents before the season begins.

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