Red Bull are not expected to begin the 2025 Formula 1 season with the best car, but Gary Anderson is ‘not a fan’ of one change they made to the RB21 during F1 testing.
Formula 1 only arranged three days of pre-season testing for the 10 teams and 20 drivers at the home of the Bahrain Grand Prix last week as they prepare for the new campaign. F1 felt three days would suffice given the reliability of this generation of cars and was proven right.
But Red Bull left Sakhir still looking for answers in the Milton Keynes natives’ quest to return to the top of the F1 constructors’ championship after McLaren won last term’s title. It is also believed that McLaren have the best car in 2025 and Red Bull may be second to fourth-best.
Gary Anderson is ‘not a fan’ of Red Bull’s front wing changes during F1 testing in Bahrain
F1 testing in Bahrain suggests Ferrari and Mercedes may be a match for Red Bull as McLaren head into the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix clear of the field. So, Red Bull tried to find some possible solutions for the problems which remain with their 2025 car, the RB21.
Yet Anderson has admitted that the former Jordan and Jaguar technical director is ‘not a fan’ of the change that Red Bull made to their front wing during testing. Red Bull started the test without a slot gap under their nose before adding a small opening above the lowest section.
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Anderson outlined to The Race: “It’s difficult to be exact but the lowest section looks a little shorter and the height change looks a little more abrupt. I’m not a fan of quick changes like this because it can introduce transverse airflow very quickly.
“The airflow under the centre section will be pulled outwards because the section just outboard of this transition is the hardest working part of the wing.
“With this package, the central section of wing will not be as powerful because the slot gap will allow airflow to be pulled through the slot, meaning it’s not as powerful at low speed and medium speed. In the wind tunnel, it will probably also be more pitch sensitive.
“So, all negative, I hear you say? Yes, but it will be more benign in real-world conditions and that is why teams still struggle to decide.”
Red Bull will hope Gary Anderson’s concerns prove incorrect with McLaren the favourites to win in Australia
Anderson was looking forward to seeing Red Bull’s nose in F1 testing after going against the trend that most teams favoured last year. It seemed, at first, like they would remain in their own group, as well, after arriving in Bahrain without any slot gap under the tip of their nose.
By having their nose cone attached to the forward-most part of the front wing element, Red Bull created the maximum airflow blockage for the airflow to the central part of the leading edge of the underfloor. But they moved to incorporate a slot gap with their changed design.
Red Bull will hope that despite Anderson’s concerns following testing in Bahrain that having a slot gap pays off with McLaren believed to be comfortably clear of their rivals heading into the term. Max Verstappen could try to leave Red Bull if their 2025 car proves to be bad, too.
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