Red Bull has introduced a upgrade package to the RB21, consisting of three changes for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Milton Keynes outfit has revised the central exit aspect ratio of the engine cover as well as introduced an enlarged exit duct with blanking options, and has made a “mild revision” to the lower wishbone shroud and fairing into the rear wheel bodywork.
According to the official FIA document, these changes revolve around shaping and calming the air as it flows over the rear of the car, reducing losses over the rear wing and beam wing setup, as well as optimising cooling options.
Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has given more insight into the revised central exit, which the team is introducing to the RB21 this weekend. While speaking to Motorsport.com and other media, he explained:
“So you have a central exit. Well, everybody’s got a central exit, haven’t they, and supplemented with louvres at the sides if we want.
“So the air that comes out of there, the flow that comes off the top body mixes with the flow coming through the top body, so it tumbles and merges a bit and obviously it’s not as clean as you might want it to be. Just downstream of that is the rear wing. So, if we get it right, then the cooling exit is of least impact to the rear wing performance, be that upper or lower.
“It comes out under the main wing, doesn’t it, on top of the beam wing. So if you’re trying to hold a low pressure on the bottom of the beam wing, you’re then feeding it with something else.
Red Bull Racing RB21, Japanese GP livery
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“So if you get your downwash right, it goes through the gap, and there’s no bother to it. So we’re just trying to make a small refinement to enhance that a little bit. That’s all.
“We’ve been able to do it with a little expense, and we’ve had the time to bring it here, so we’ll bring it here.”
Clarifying if the updates are being introduced to improve reliability or performance, Monaghan added:
“It gives you a small cooling improvement; it means we can run the car more closed and do less harm to the rear wing. So it’s a small win. Let’s take it.”
Addressing whether these updates will target the air leakages which were an issue for the team and Liam Lawson during FP3 in Australia, he continued:
“No, that’s that’s not related to that at all. So, the boost side of the engine wasn’t holding boost. So, it’s nothing to do with the top body that’s on us and yes, unfortunately, we rather let Liam down for P3, hell of an effort by the boys though. Engine out, pipes on, engine back in, and off we went. So, this is unrelated.”
The FIA document also confirmed the details of the enlarged exit duct, stating:
“In preparation for upcoming races, a larger exit duct has been prepared with scope to blank primarily for Suzuka.”
The document also details the revision to the lower wishbone shroud and fairing into the rear wheel bodywork:
“Gap between races allowed a revised wishbone shroud better aligned to the local flow conditions to be applied with attendant fairing into the brake duct assembly.”
Red Bull is hoping to develop their car quickly, with the objective of opening up that operating window for its drivers.
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