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RacingNews365’s Paolo Filisetti delves into how a minor rules tidy-up might have affected Red Bull’s RB20 machine.
The performance comparison between the Red Bull RB20 and last year’s RB19 emphasizes that this year’s car is not as dominant, with the competition catching up. The RB20 is 132 points behind compared to the previous year, indicating a lower level of competitiveness over the 14 races held so far. The car’s track-dependency has increased, notably from the Miami Grand Prix onwards. Despite this, Max Verstappen managed to secure four wins in the first five races on various track layouts and conditions. An anomaly during the Australian GP, where a rear brake failure led to Max’s retirement due to a fire, might offer insights into Red Bull’s current challenges. The recent modification of article 11.2.1 in the FIA technical regulations, addressing asymmetric braking torques, may suggest a loophole exploitation concern. The RB20’s previous use of an inertial valve in the braking system, which wasn’t part of the standard components supplied by Brembo, is seen as a possible clue that FIA technicians scrutinized.
