How Red Bull went radical with its huge new upgrade

Red Bull brought to Hungary a radically modified car, especially the engine cover solely for Max Verstappen. 

The upgraded car does away with the bulky bazookas that have characterised the RB20 in favour of a slimmer bodywork section that results in less aerodynamic blocking and increasing of effectiveness of the cooling gills. 

Therefore, it is a far-reaching change with multiple repercussions in terms of reliability and also performance. 

In FP1, a direct comparison between the two packages was obtained, with Sergio Perez continuing with the old package, with the changes significantly influencing the upper luid dyanmics of the car, but also lower down.

In practice, the shape new shape of the upper bodywork and increased cross-section of the air intakes partially clash with the original concept of the undercut of the sidepods on the RB20. 

Verstappen’s are now more voluminous at the rear and also less tapered than Perez’s – producing completely different airflows underneath the sidepods and the effectiveness to which the floor can generate downforce.

On a track such as the Hungaroring, it is a difference which could be imperceptible, but if the team commit to running the package elsewhere, it will have a big influence on the behaviour of the car. 

Although the upgrade, in essence for Hungary is more focused on reliability and cooling with the radiators remaining unchanged, the entire machine has undergone significant modifications to make it work coherently with the new package.

To make it work, Red Bull has a different profile to the front-wing elements and also the brake cooling intakes.

Check out some close-up shots of the upgraded RB20 below!