Red Bull, conventional shapes. But will it be fast?

The RB21 is the single-seater with which Red Bull wants to erase the critical issues that emerged from the RB20 project. In reality, one gets the impression that it is a sort of hybrid, as, on the one hand, it seems that the new single-seater does not completely deny the previous setup, while at the overall project level, a sort of greater conventionality can be noted. In essence, the original shapes that had characterized the RB20 with the base of the engine hood hidden by two long "bazookas" that sloped sharply towards the rear, have been replaced by a body that seems to be a reasoned evolution of the one that debuted in Hungary last year. It is useful to remember that that configuration, defined by high downforce, had found its justification, especially for the time and technical resources employed with the current championship, in the search for better heat exchange, so as not to compromise the reliability of the Honda power unit.

It seems that the technicians directed by Pierre Wachè have tried above all not to see the potential performance of the RB21 undermined, rather than increase it with a more radical approach. Is this perhaps a symptom that the team's technicians consider this concept as not further developable in terms of pure performance? This theory has increasingly gained ground among rival technicians, due to the long streak of races (10) without victories. At the base, an increasingly critical dynamics of the vehicle, especially when compared to rival single-seaters. It will soon be understood whether this theory has any foundation. In any case, leaving Red Bull out of the game could prove to be an underestimation mistake for rivals. Better not to do it.