Seven victories in seven races of the season speak for themselves. But what exactly makes the Red Bull RB19 such a dominant car? Red Bull’s Technical Director Pierre Wache has now commented on this at the Canadian Grand Prix.
“The efficiency, I would say. On different routes we are able to generate downforce without much air resistance. That is, I think, the greatest strength,” said Wache about the Red Bull of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
At the same time, he also reveals that one did not expect such a dominant early phase of the season. “The difference [zu unseren Konkurrenten] is larger than we expected,” Wache clarifies in this context.
“When you build a car, you try to make it as fast as possible,” he explains. But success depends “not only on you, but also on the others.” Because before a new season you never know how fast your opponent’s cars are.
In the meantime, however, there is no longer any doubt that the RB19 is currently the best package in the field – by far. Some observers even assume that Red Bull doesn’t even have to go to the limit at the moment to dominate like this.
Red Bull expects: fight at the top will be tighter
But that’s “not really” the case, Wache clarifies. In qualifying you push quite normally, and in the race you sometimes go easy on the tires “to extend a stint or give us more options in terms of strategy.”
“But that’s what everyone does,” emphasizes Wache. So Red Bull behave no differently than other teams. He also says with regard to the lead over the pursuers: “In qualifying you can see that they are closer every time in terms of pure performance.”
Red Bull still have “an advantage” in the race, he admits. But here, too, he prophesies: “It will be tighter.” Because, among other things, the updates from the competition would ensure that your own lead will decrease.
But there is currently nothing to be seen of this, especially with world champion Max Verstappen. While team-mate Sergio Perez recently made mistakes, Verstappen won five of the seven races of the season and finished second behind Perez in the other two.
In Canada, Red Bull can claim the 100th Formula 1 victory in the team’s history this weekend. Should that succeed, the RB19 would remain undefeated.