P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Are Red Bull's RB19 problems in Singapore being caused by TD018?
In the Singapore Grand Prix practice, both Red Bull RB19s performed poorly, which was partially predicted by Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, and Christian Horner. The introduction of TD018, a technical directive issued by the FIA, could provide a plausible explanation. It aims to limit the flexibility and deformation of wing elements, making adjustments and reducing gaps more challenging for aerodynamicists.
Throughout practice, Verstappen and Perez experimented with different setups to address difficulties with the front-end of the car during corner entrance and the RB19’s rear instability on corner exit. The RB19’s ride height was unusually high, which could be to avoid curb-related issues at Marina Bay, but it may have compromised the car’s performance.
It is unlikely that the engineers will be able to resolve the setup issues before qualifying, hindering Verstappen and Perez from extracting the same level of performance as Ferrari has shown. Red Bull is known to have problems with torque transfer during gear shifts, leading to rear-instability. This requires the drivers to slightly reduce speed while changing gears, affecting the car’s optimal performance.
Source: RacingNews 365
