If Red Bull is looking for a way to reduce its disadvantage from Ferrari in certain types of corners, Ferrari has worked to do the same with regard to the strongest points exhibited up to now by the cars designed by the genius of Adrian Newey.
For Formula 1 teams it is normal administration, things that have always happened, but in a season in which the spending limit imposed by the Budget Cap is a sword of Damocles tied a few centimeters from the neck of the teams, the updates that have the task to reduce the gap – even if only partial – from rivals have a significant specific weight.
Since the Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari has available a new rear wing designed to reduce drag and, above all, to be more effective once the DRS (Drag Reduction System) has been opened. The RB18s, since the Barcelona tests, had shown significantly higher top speeds than the opposing single-seaters.
This advantage he had and exploited very well in the first half of the season, but then Ferrari reacted. At Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal it was Charles Leclerc who was able to take advantage of the new wing, then, from the next test, Carlos Sainz Jr. also had the opportunity to use it in the race, leading it to victory.
At the end of the Austrian Grand Prix, won by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, Mattia Binotto spoke about the subject to underline how the work done by the engineers and aerodynamics of the Prancing Horse team worked properly, greatly reducing the disadvantage of F1. -75 from RB18 once the DRS is open.
“We had a disadvantage compared to Red Bull in terms of speed on the straight, without a doubt. Especially in areas where the DRS could be used. So, in terms of power about their DRS compared to ours. We worked a lot on that.” .
“Our work has been seen with the new rear wing that we introduced for the first time only on a single-seater, that of Leclerc in Canada. Then we mounted it on both single-seaters starting from the British Grand Prix and I believe that from this point of view we have reduced the gap in terms of top speed from Red Bull “.
The advantage of Milton Keynes’ open DRS cars has not completely vanished. It is still there, but according to what Binotto said it is now very light, if not negligible. With two single-seaters so different in concepts, but similar in overall performance, the drivers can make the difference with their driving and their choices during the race weekends. It is precisely in this way that Leclerc and Sainz (before the unfortunate retirement) dominated at the Red Bull Ring.
“I think the RB18s still have a slight advantage over us, but I think it’s very small or negligible. Then we can make a difference in the corners, but it’s not just a matter of cars, but also of drivers.”
“In Austria, Leclerc and Sainz did a fantastic job in terms of balancing the car, understanding the tires, handling them and driving on the track. They were very good, very fast. So I think they were great too. part of the excellent result achieved. They will be able to make a difference when the car is more limited in terms of grip “, concluded Binotto.
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