Red Bull Dominate F1 Practice One

30 Jul 2010

We knew that Red Bull was fast, but we didn’t think that they would be as fast as they proved to be in the first practice session for the weekend’s Grand Prix at Hungary.

The effect of the ban on testing between races has meant that just about every Formula One race this season has been something of an aerodynamic lottery. Between races each team, using a combination of computer modelling and wind tunnel testing (or just computer modelling for the teams that do not have access to wind tunnels), attempts to create improved aerodynamic performance and so turns up at races with a range of alternative bolt-on parts and replacement elements such as wings.

Not until the official testing sessions start do they have any real experience of how they will actually perform in racing conditions. Mostly they improve the car, but sometimes they do the opposite as was experiences two races ago with McLaren. They brought along a new diffuser system which did not work and had to go back to the previous one.

At the last race at Hockenheim it was Ferraris’ turn to win the aerodynamic lottery. For the first time this season it seemed that they had given their car new legs and its performance dominated on both qualifying and race days.

This time it seems that Red Bull has come out on top and Ferrari is again struggling. This is not a marginal result either – both Red Bull cars were two seconds faster than their nearest rivals Renault. It is difficult to see how the other teams can close this almost unprecedented gap.

Jenson Button was two seconds faster than his team mate Lewis Hamilton, though it Hamilton had other gremlins to sort out on his car and managed to complete only fifteen laps.