F1
Can Adrian Newey’s latest Formula 1 machine lead the way in 2014?
Red Bull Racing’s 2014 Formula One challenger, the RB10, was unveiled early this morning at the Circuito de Jerez with a short pit lane photo call before the car was sent on its way for its first laps of pre-season testing at the Spanish circuit.
The new car, designed to meet the raft of technical regulation changes imposed for this season, will be driven today by Sebastian Vettel, who this year will be bidding for a fifth championship win in a row.
However, while Vettel’s multiple titles have all come during a period of relative stability, with a rule set last significantly changed in 2009, this year promises all-new cars following the move to 1.6-liter, turbocharged power units that rely heavily on a combination of internal combustion power and energy recovery systems.
New F1 Regulations
On the surface the RB10 may not very obviously reflect that major change, but the effects of 2014’s aerodynamic regulations are noticeable, most notably so in the case of the sharply raked nose, which has been profiled to meet new rules that demand a lower front bulkhead and a significantly lower nose.
The changes are obvious, too, at the rear of the car, where new exhaust rules spell the end of exhaust-blown downforce. The beam wing has also been removed from the rear wing and there’s a larger slot gap for the Drag Reduction System.
Vettel will of course be joined in pursuit of 2014 honours by new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who will take over at the wheel of the RB10 tomorrow.
Toro Rosso STR9 Launched
Ricciardo joins the team after two seasons at sister squad Toro Rosso, whose 2014 car, the STR9, was unveiled yesterday by drivers Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvyat. In Ricciardo’s 39 grands prix for the Italian team, the Australian driver scored 30 points with a best race classification of seventh, scored last year at both the Chinese and Italian Grands Prix.
