Newey: I wouldn’t say our solutions are the best

Adrian Newey was willing to criticize the 2023 technical regulations relatively recently – the famous race car designer did not like the fact that there were too many different kinds of hard restrictions in it, which of course does not contribute to the flight of technical thinking .

But it seems that the head of Red Bull Racing’s technology division has now changed his mind.

“I have to admit that while working with new cars I had to change my mind,” Newey told Auto Motor und Sport. “The regulations set a very rigid framework for the development of the chassis in general and the front wing in particular, but there are areas where a surprisingly high degree of freedom is left.

Including the side pontoons and the bottom part. Since different teams’ cars have different shapes of side pontoons, it’s easier for fans to tell them apart, which isn’t bad either. In general, it has become much more interesting to work, because these machines are completely new. We all have to learn to deal with it very quickly. And last year’s chassis was the product of a long modernization process, as regulations remained stable for a long time. Although the rules were constantly being changed, they were based on the same principle.

At the beginning of this season the two teams were on the same level – us and Ferrari, and by the end of the year Mercedes added. Although I honestly expected the difference in speeds to be more noticeable. But none of us designers were quite right in choosing the concept, because, for example, on our car and Ferrari have a completely different shape of the side pontoons, but at the same time the F1-75 is almost as fast as the RB18. Therefore, there must be other, more efficient solutions.

Wings cannot be developed separately from pontoons, everything only works well in combination. Ferrari side pontoons do not fit under our car and vice versa. These elements are always connected. But Mercedes surprised everyone – it turns out we missed a certain gray area in the regulations. Although I don’t believe it would occur to anyone to copy their unusual solution.

Viewed from the outside, however, it is difficult to judge. As the season progressed, Mercedes got better and better and to be honest we simply didn’t have time to study their concept in detail. If you’re working on a tight budget, you don’t have that luxury anymore. Therefore, first of all, choose those directions that seem more promising.

We continue to develop our concept, because that is where we have the best knowledge. But I dare not say that our solutions are the best. It is quite possible that someone will soon come up with a more interesting idea.”

At the same time, Newey does not rule out the possibility that a very effective solution may even appear, which has not yet occurred to anyone: “Think of the double diffusers. This gray area has always remained in the regulations, but they simply could not find it for a long time.”