Red Bull continues taking F1 news headlines for their strong start to 2024. However, there is more to come from the reigning Champions.
Controversy and uncertainty are persistently following Red Bull off-track. The team’s internal conflicts have not, however, diminished the supremacy of the RB20 – which is expecting updates in the near future.
Formula 1’s budget cap is designed to limit big teams from disproportionate spending on development.
In theory, a team like Red Bull should have been somewhat limited by this regulatory change.
However, Adrian Newey and his technical team are only becoming more efficient as they continue to evade their rivals.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect from last weekend’s Bahrain GP is that more updates are arriving to the RB20.
Embracing ideas from Mercedes
This is certainly not unique to the Austrian squad since most teams are starting 2024 with very new concepts.
However, the changes anticipated at Red Bull in the foreseeable future will be very radical.
In the build-up to Bahrain testing, the reigning Champions brought surprise alterations that dominated F1 news.
Several components of the abandoned W14 concept were present on Adrian Newey and Pierre Wache’s newest challenger.
Considering Mercedes replaced technical director Mike Elliot for his ultimately failed development approach, this was a huge shock.
In a shocking turn of irony, further Mercedes-type changes are expected.
Updates due in Japan, Imola
During the winter break, Helmut Marko confirmed speculation that substantial updates will be introduced at the Japanese GP.
Now situated as round 4 of the calendar, Suzuka could see Red Bull introduce sidepods that are reminiscent of the infamous ‘zeropod’ concept once used at Mercedes.
Although sidepods are not the biggest contributor to performance in modern F1, they are certainly impactful.
Therefore, it would be quite a message to see Red Bull take another step forward by adopting some of the ideas first conceived at Brackley.
More recently, Helmut Marko has hinted that new parts are also scheduled for Imola, as reported by AMuS.
This would mean the introduction of two substantial packages just one-third into the 2024 campaign.
Whilst the effect of these updates is impossible to predict, these reports are ominous.
They serve as another reminder of the gap Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin must bridge.
