P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull endured a disappointing first half of this season, seeing its hopes of challenging McLaren fall by the wayside. RacingNews365 technical expert Paolo Filisetti reviews why.
The developments on the RB21 during the first part of the season have been challenging to accurately identify due to a mix of planned elements and corrections introduced at various races to address design limitations.
Changes implemented in Japan, Miami, and Imola were mainly corrections rather than major innovations, highlighting issues with aerodynamic efficiency, particularly evident at the Silverstone race.
Adjustments made on Max Verstappen’s car in Miami and Imola aimed to improve aerodynamic balance and reduce chronic understeer, common in the RB21, but challenges persisted, such as the extreme stiffness of the front end affecting handling.
The design direction under technical director Pierre Waché focused on tailoring the car to Verstappen’s driving style rather than comprehensively addressing underlying technical flaws, possibly impacting the effectiveness of solving dynamic and aerodynamic issues.
While the approach may be strategic from a championship perspective, fully resolving the RB21’s performance challenges has proven elusive, with a need to strike a better balance between on-track behavior and driver control.
