Mercedes and Ferrari get "significant intel" on Red Bull's dominant F1 cars

23 May 2023 , 17:00

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Red Bull's RB19's have been so far ahead of the competition this year (Image: AP)

Red Bull might have given their Formula 1 rivals a big hint as to where they should focus their car development efforts going forward.

Safe to say, Red Bull have done a much better job than anyone else in terms of adapting to the new car regulations which came into force last year. Only Ferrari were able to match their performance in the first half of 2022 and, so far this year, the RB19s have been peerless.

The performance gap is clearly significant, leaving the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari with a mountain to climb. Much has been made of the defending champions' ultra-powerful DRS system which is giving them a huge speed advantage on the long straights.

But Tom Clarkson believes another area of the car is also making the difference. And, according to the F1 Nation host, the fact long-serving technical chief Adrian Newey has been so focussed on it is a clue that their rivals should examine closely in their respective bids to close the gap.

He said: "I maintain that Adrian Newey spending more time focused on the suspension of this year's Red Bull is such a hugely significant bit of intel. That’s where the performance is.

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"It's all about maintaining a smooth ride height as low as possible with these cars. Red Bull have nailed it – no-one else has – and that is the difference in performance between the cars."

Adrian Newey has overseen the creation of another incredible F1 machine (HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Even Red Bull chief Christian Horner has been unable to hide his surprise at just how far his team is ahead of the competition. Some felt his "where are the others?" comment was unnecessary gloating, but Sky Sports presenter Damon Hill feels he is entitled to ask that question.

The 1996 world champion said: "Christian is someone who likes to rub salt in the wounds – he doesn't tend to say things without knowing the impact of his words. But saying that everyone else has underperformed, he's right.

"Red Bull, that team has produced an absolute peach of a car. They've exploited whatever loopholes there are in the regulations so that it's a legal car that is beautifully put together. I was watching Max [Verstappen]in Miami drive that thing and thinking, 'That guy can do anything with that car'. It's so beautifully balanced. But everyone else has underperformed, he's right."

Daniel Moxon