Martin Brundle has warned Red Bull that next week at Suzuka an even more difficult check will be carried out on its “completely destabilised” RB19.
Red Bull’s one hundred percent record this season is more in jeopardy than ever, as both drivers completed Q3 outdoors, but it’s not their starting position that’s causing the most concern.
Although it has been like a ‘rocket’ this season, the RB19 in Singapore looked out of control, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez struggling to stay between the white line.
Its sudden loss of functionality coincided with the arrival of an FIA technical directive, TD018, which clarifies some regulations related to the flexibility of the frame.
While blaming the new board for Red Bull’s problems turns out to be an apparent conclusion, Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz said that’s not the case, as rule replacement affects some other component of the field.
“Yesterday we saw the newer of the two Red Bull floors with new edges, so they don’t have a new floor here this weekend, but they have new edges,” he said in qualifying.
“So those are the ones that were taken from us on Friday, those new parts, and they came back to the other one that they finished in Monza.
“They know that cutting the edges of the ground is the right way, so it can’t be them. That is why there are many other people who are asking: “Is this a technical directive on mulched flooring?”
“And we believe that this is not the case either, because the technical directive on flexible soils clarifies what is appropriate on the lowest surface of the soil.
“The disruptions that Red Bull is having – slowing down, not putting the tyres in the right window, braking – don’t seem to be similar to this. “
Brundle joined Kravitz at the exhibition and said an even tougher test of the Red Bull car will take place next week at Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix.
“It’s anything that particularly affects aerodynamics,” Brundle said. “It can’t be about suspension, geometry, kinematics or anything else. Something absolutely destabilized the aerodynamics of this Red Bull on this track. “
“The decisive moment will be at Suzuka next weekend, they have time to sort it out to a certain extent, because it’s an aerodynamic circuit.
Read more: Singapore Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz takes pole as Red Bull implodes