© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
When Red Bull revealed its 2024 car, it was noticeable that it featured some of the concepts that Mercedes had previously used and now abandoned, like a version of the ‘zero sidepod’.
When Red Bull revealed its 2024 car, a lot of observers were very surprised, because the car featured some of the concepts that Mercedes had previously used and ultimately decided to abandon.
For example, Red Bull decided to included the full-length engine gulleys, similar to the ones that Mercedes had used in 2023.
Red Bull also decided to include slimmer sidepods, somewhat reminiscent of Mercedes’ controversial ‘zero sidepod’, which was introduced at the beginning of 2022, and then abandoned during the 2023 season.
So, while other teams have very much converged on Red Bull’s old designs, the Austrian team now seems to be ‘copying’ what are thought to be ‘failed’ designs of its opposition.
When it was put to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner that the revealed designs were only used to bait the team’s opposition, the Briton denied it and insisted that those were the actual designs that the team will use in 2024.
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
“It’s not tactical, it’s based on performance and what we’re seeing through our simulation tools,” Horner said.
“Obviously the car looks quite visibly different in certain areas to last year.
Only the stopwatch will tell, but in a virtual world we wouldn’t have committed to this design if we didn’t feel it was better.”
The Briton admitted that the team made some bold choices.
“I think there’s great innovation on the car as well that no doubt will be scrutinised over the coming couple of weeks. I think creativity has been strong in the team.
“You can see that in some of the solutions that they’ve come up with. So, it’s not a conservative evolution.
“There’s some great innovation,” Horner concluded.
Max Verstappen also dismissed the notion that Red Bull decided to ‘copy’ Mercedes’ designs.
“I would still call it a Red Bull style, but I know what you mean,” the Dutch driver said.
“I’m quite happy with the direction that they chose. I saw the drawings I think in Abu Dhabi, the last race, and I was like: ‘Wow, that’s quite different in a way.’
“They’ve not been conservative, let’s say it like that. I think what I like about the team is that we had a great package, but they took the chance to really go all out, I would say, and try to make it better.
“Of course, time will tell if it’s really, really good. But from what I see within the team everyone is just happy with what they have achieved in the winter.
“But then again, we don’t know, we can’t control what other people did,” Verstappen concluded.
