A detailed analysis of Red Bull Racing’s performance in 2012 Formula 1 season
Red Bull Racing, the reigning champions of the current season are still at the top of the rankings in the current season but are finding it much more challenging to hold on to their position now than they did in the previous year.
The 2011 year was a dominating one for Red Bull as the team perfected the off throttle blown diffuser innovation in the engine giving them a good aerodynamic advantage over other teams.
Sebastian Vettel recorded eleven wins while his teammate Mark Webber managed a single win in the season. The 12 wins made sure the team secured their championship title four races before the season ending Grand Prix.
The team has been doing well in the current season as well but since FIA changed the regulations and the off-throttle blown diffuser has been banned the team has not been able to show the same dominance in the current season with most teams fighting out
the title battle closely knit together.
The season saw seven different winners to the first seven Grands Prix, such has been the competitiveness in the season. Even though Vettel has found it difficult to win races this season, Webber has been able to up the ante and has scored a couple of wins
in the season. Webber is placed second behind Fernando Alonso for the drivers’ title.
Red Bull have been able to introduce different packages to their car to maintain peak performance in the season. The team however was not able to get away from the controversies regarding the specifications of the car this season either. If it was not the
off-throttle blown diffuser it is the engine mapping of the car that is in question. The stewards investigated the Red Bull car and have found out that the torque of the engine is not abiding by the regulations and giving an aerodynamic advantage to the team
which is illegal.
The controversy was revealed during the German Grand Prix, but it has since been banned. There is still some clarification required by FIA regarding the issue and while that is being investigated, another issue has been revealed that the car has a device
that manually adjusts the ride-height.
While the team has said that they have passed all the test and have made the car in accordance to the regulations, the controversies do take a little shine off their achievements.
Red Bull have left for the summer break on a high knowing that the team has the fastest car on the grid followed closely by McLaren and then Lotus. When they return after the break they will be looking to get away from the controversies and focus on making
sure they win races. It will be interesting to see how the team fares as the season progresses.
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