BREAKING: FIA Confirms Red Bull Car Modification as Extreme Conditions hit S…read more
FIA Confirms Red Bull Car Modification as Extreme Conditions hit Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The FIA has confirmed that Red Bull Racing has implemented key changes to their car ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as teams prepare to battle intense heat at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Temperatures are forecast to reach the high 30 Celsius during the early evening sessions, with nighttime conditions still hovering around 31–32°C throughout the race weekend. These extreme temperatures have prompted teams, including Red Bull, to focus on managing cooling and performance.
To cope with the heat, Red Bull has enlarged the central exit on the engine cover, allowing better heat dissipation through the car’s upper body. This modification aims to improve cooling efficiency and prevent potential overheating issues.
Additionally, the team has revised the beam wing configuration to lower overall downforce and better meet the aerodynamic demands of the Jeddah circuit. With its combination of high-speed corners and extended straights, the track requires a delicate balance between downforce and straight-line speed. Red Bull has responded by reducing the beam wing chord, seeking to boost performance across all sectors.
The changes come as Red Bull looks to recover from a disappointing performance in Bahrain, where Max Verstappen finished sixth and Yuki Tsunoda scored his first points for the team in ninth. The result left the team trailing McLaren by 80 points in the constructors’ standings, prompting internal discussions and speculation about Verstappen’s future with the team.
Helmut Marko voiced concerns that Verstappen might consider leaving if the team doesn’t recover soon. However, Verstappen brushed off the speculation during Thursday’s press conference, telling Sky Sports’ David Croft to focus on commentary instead of his contract situation.
Meanwhile, team boss Christian Horner expressed cautious optimism. While confident that Red Bull has identified the issues behind their performance dip, he acknowledged that solving them will be no easy task.
“We believe we’ve pinpointed the problem, but finding a workable solution in race conditions is much more complex,” Horner stated.
Red Bull now hopes that their technical adjustments, coupled with a better understanding of the car’s limitations, will help them regain form under the blazing Saudi skies.
