Pink Bull stays baffled by the stability issues that left it struggling in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, however one factor it is aware of it obtained incorrect was wing ranges.
Whereas the rear wing idea that it has used at Monza seems to be intriguing – with its wavy prime flap fairly excessive – it’s not really the type of bespoke idea wanted for Monza’s calls for.
And maybe nothing proves that greater than the pace lure figures from qualifying which Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez had been left proper on the backside.
They had been 347.2km/h and 346.8km/h respectively – which is nicely down on Fernando Alonso, who was quickest general and tagged 353.5km/h. As a comparability of the place its foremost title rival McLaren was, Lando Norris logged 349km/h.
These figures are in the end simply defined by Pink Bull as a result of, in contrast to its rivals, it elected to not carry a bespoke Monza wing to F1’s temple of pace.
Everybody else has had a made-for-Monza rear wing , which is particularly designed and constructed with the circuit’s traits in thoughts. This implies dumping as a lot drag as doable to be able to enhance straightline pace.
Pink Bull didn’t try this because it caught with a trimmed-down model of what’s presently its lowest downforce selection, which remains to be above what is required for Monza.
In response to Max Verstappen, the explanation for it electing to not carry a Monza-specific wing comes all the way down to the associated fee cap, with it deciding that the expense of making a wing only for one monitor was not price it.
“You make sure decisions below the funds cap,” mentioned the Dutchman. “As an alternative of a particular Monza wing, we spend the cash on one thing else. However when you have already got issues, then this makes it even worse, in fact.”
It’s actually true that designing a bespoke possibility is resource-heavy, with the crew not solely having to design a brand new meeting in CFD, produce scale components for the wind tunnel after which manufacture the actual world elements, however there’s additionally the issue that it might not even use the wing once more for the remainder of the season.
The arrival of Las Vegas has considerably softened the blow within the final respect, as many groups used their Monza specification wings there final yr.
Besides, there’s nonetheless a value to pay, each financially and from a simulation viewpoint in constructing a really low-downforce wing.
The latter of those two can be a problem for Pink Bull, because it has the least quantity of CFD and wind tunnel runs at its disposal attributable to its place within the championship.
So reasonably than making a Monza wing, Pink Bull opted to trim the higher flap from the bottom downforce rear wing already in its providing, with two fairly excessive crescent-shaped cutouts discovered both aspect of the centreline.
While it was the one crew taking this strategy, with the idea grabbing consideration as a result of it seems to be so completely different, it’s not the primary time we’ve seen the wing in query.
Pink Bull Racing RB20 rear wing element, Belgian GP
Picture by: Giorgio Piola
It was examined throughout FP2 in Belgium on Max Verstappen’s RB20 (above), albeit with a Gurney flap connected to the trailing edge to assist stability the wing (foremost picture).
Moreover, it’s actually no completely different from the strategy it took final season, albeit the crew used extra of an angular cutout as might be seen under.
Pink Bull Racing RB19 technical element
Picture by: Giorgio Piola
That is just like what we’ve seen from different groups prior to now and even what a few of its rivals are doing this trip at Monza.
To assist stability out the aero front-to-rear, Pink Bull has taken an identical strategy with its entrance wing too, with sections of the higher flap’s trailing edge eliminated, to be able to scale back downforce and the drag being generated.
Pink Bull Racing RB20 new entrance wing for Monza
Picture by: Giorgio Piola
It additionally moved the adjuster to the outboard place as soon as extra, which is one thing it has been testing over the previous few races.
It has switched backwards and forwards between outdated and new specification components to attempt to unlock additional efficiency from the RB20.
Whereas for now Pink Bull’s focus is on wider aero issues, one conclusion it should take from Monza is that subsequent yr it should most likely have to have a distinct strategy for the Italian Grand Prix.
As Verstappen added: “We’ve by no means had a particular Monza wing or a particular Monza package deal lately.
“However, within the final couple of years, our automobile was nonetheless adequate to compensate for that. However this is perhaps one thing that we have now to do otherwise for subsequent yr.”
Extra reporting by Ronald Vording
