Adrian Newey: Red Bull to base RB8 on the successful RB7 for 2012 – Formula 1 news
Chief designer of Red Bull Racing Adrian Newey has said that their 2012 car, RB8, will be an evolution of the RB7.
He mentioned how the regulations changes for 2012 were significant but not as huge to go for a completely new car. He said the car is working for them and they will not be making major changes in it, however, on the same note he said they cannot afford to
be complacent either.
He said that they are looking to modify their car’s blown diffuser. This is mainly due to the new rules governing the design of the car, which bans diffusers.
The car will be based on the RB5 design. Red Bull has gone with the same design since 2009 when RB5 was introduced, and it has been a successful move considering the results they have achieved and RB7 was the benchmark car to beat.
“I think that fundamentally there’s no point in doing something new if it’s not better, so our approach is certainly not complacency, so we’re not thinking: ‘we don’t have to do anything, we’ll still be quick enough next year.’ That would be enormous folly,”
Newey explained.
“We’re working away trying to deal with the regulation changes. I think the restriction on the exhaust exit position is actually a very big change; it goes through the car. Other than that, the regulation changes are significant but not huge,” he further
added.
On the other hand, their opponents have gone with a complete redesign of their cars, something Ferrari has also done, and according to the team principal of Ferrari Stefano Domenicali, they are going to be redesigning their car entirely and even the steering
wheel will be changed.
Newey does not feel that the car will be as dominant as before, as other cars are gaining in performance as well. He said that they cannot be sure what others are coming out with, but will find out as soon as the first race of the 2012 season takes place.
Tags: