P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull did not return to action at Barcelona on Wednesday following Isack Hadjar’s crash the day before. This allowed RacingNews365’s technical expert, Paolo Filisetti, the opportunity to notice some striking aspects of the RB22.
Red Bull’s absence from Wednesday’s pre-season test running provided a rare opportunity to scrutinize the RB22’s aerodynamic philosophy, highlighting the Milton Keynes-based squad’s unconventional approach. This positioning of the crash structures flanking the cockpit and the pronounced slot in the diffuser’s lateral section demonstrate how aggressively Red Bull has interpreted the 2026 regulations; they’ve pushed boundaries once again. Red Bull’s engineering prowess is evident in their compact sidepods design, maximizing airflow towards crucial rear sections for downforce generation. The convergence of Red Bull and Mercedes on similar aerodynamic solutions is not surprising, given the advancements in computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel technology. McLaren’s embrace of pronounced rake angles, like Red Bull, shows the trend towards higher rake philosophies for optimal aerodynamic configuration. Overall, Red Bull’s technical direction reaffirms their reputation for favoring radical solutions over conservative ones if performance gains are to be had.
