Red Bull To Test New F1 Diffuser At Spa
By: Motorsport.com/GMM
A long-awaited summer break, including mandatory factory shutdowns, lies ahead for F1 team members.
But the previously dominant Red Bull, beaten by Ferrari and McLaren at the last three Grands Prix, is planning a significant upgrade for the RB7 to debut at Spa-Francorchamps later this month.
"McLaren have made the biggest leap in the blown diffuser (area)," team boss Christian Horner told Der Spiegel in Hungary, adding that there is still developmental "potential" in Red Bull's car.
The report said a new floor and diffuser, to be tested in Friday practice in Belgium, should make the Red Bull three tenths per lap faster.
Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio said it is a myth that F1's smartest chiefs will simply lie on beaches in the next few weeks.
"Who really believes that, as McLaren and Ferrari move ahead, Adrian Newey for example says to his guys tomorrow at Milton Keynes: 'Ok guys, see you in two weeks!'"
Actually, more than 100 points ahead in the constructors' and 88 points clear of the first non-Red Bull in the drivers' chase, Red Bull are not panicking.
"We are on a par with McLaren. And we have a head start," consultant Dr Helmut Marko told Kleine Zeitung with eight races left to run in 2011.
Perhaps we don't have the strongest car at the moment, but we can still achieve good points
He also confirmed that development of the RB7 is moving ahead.
"We will continue to make the car better," said the Austrian.
Die Welt headlined after Sunday's result that second place was "The perfect defeat" for German Sebastian Vettel, whose championship lead actually extended due to Jenson Button winning.
"I definitely can live with P2," he said.
"Perhaps we don't have the strongest car at the moment, but we can still achieve good points."
Share Or Save This Story
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Jenson Button identifies key reason behind Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari resurgence
Lewis Hamilton: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’ and ended up 0.5s slower
Why "dangerous" Hamilton-Lawson incident in Azerbaijan GP practice hasn't led to change
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
James Vowles hails Williams factory effort after major Baku F1 upgrade
Why Max Verstappen says 0.196s Baku finish-line gap to George Russell is slightly misleading
Franco Colapinto penalty revealed for causing Baku F1 pile-up
Ross Chastain was just a fan when he saw client Carson Hocevar in a fight
Baku late-race chaos almost costs Russell victory over Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
What we learned from Thursday practice at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments