Just before the start of the test days in Bahrain, Red Bull has unveiled the first images of the RB21. At first glance, the car appears strikingly similar to its predecessor, but beneath the familiar blue and red exterior lies a vehicle designed to definitively overcome the balance issues of the previous season.
Same Shell, New Substance
Although the design does not seem to differ much from the RB20 – a color scheme already seen during the F1 75 event in London – the RB21 promises to be a significant step forward. The studio photos shared by the team remain mysterious and reveal little about the technical changes. However, it is clear that Red Bull has made serious adjustments to address the balance issues of the previous season.
According to Technical Director Pierre Wache, a lot of work was put into the RB21 over the winter. The goal? A car that is easier to tune without sacrificing pure speed. “We have tried to enlarge the setup window so that the car performs better on different circuits and under different conditions,” said Wache.
Lessons from a Challenging Season
Last season started promisingly for Max Verstappen and Red Bull. However, as McLaren picked up the pace and Ferrari also joined the fray, Sergio Pérez in particular began to struggle more and more with the behavior of the RB20. The balance issues became so acute that Red Bull only truly understood what was going wrong at the Italian Grand Prix. The big question now is whether the RB21 will be good enough to stay ahead of McLaren and Ferrari.
