The Formula One returns to action after a long summer break. The refreshing break gave the teams much-needed refreshments. However, the teams must gear up now, as the upcoming races could make a huge difference. The Red Bull team will start as the Leader, with McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari chasing behind.
However, the Milton Keynes-based outfit is in a slump, as the team appears vulnerable to car development. On the other hand, McLaren is raging with confidence, consistently troubling the Bulls. The results of the first two practice sessions were in favor of the Pappya squad, while the RBR team was lagging. Moreover, both teams have introduced some key upgrades ahead of the Dutch GP.
McLaren And Red Bull Brings Upgrades, While Mercedes And Ferrari Comes With No Change
The Formula 1 convoy has reached Zandvoort, where an exciting battle awaits. The summer break is over, and the team has kicked off the Dutch GP with Friday FP sessions. However, the Red Bull team had a turbulent summer break, with key personnel leaving and joining hands with rivals. Moreover, the team had to make crucial decisions related to the drivers’ lineup, eventually impacting the world title. On the other hand, the closest rivals, McLaren, had a decent summer break, and they’re back with six massive upgraded components for the Dutch GP.
First up is Red Bull’s circuit-specific cooling change to narrow the central exit, increasing the cooling capacity. The halo change is for flow conditioning, improving the downstream pressure affecting the local flow conditions. Another flow conditioning change is in the mirror stays with a horizontal stay height and vertical angle change for better alignment. Meanwhile, McLaren has installed six components to continue its momentum. The team introduced a new front brake scoop to improve the local flow and downstream pressure. Similarly, the revised front suspension results from scooping front brake geometry, complementing the beneficial effect downstream. The floor edge is upgraded to improve the local load. Further, the team has modified the suspension shape on the rear end for better local flow conditioning. Also, a tweak is made to the rear wing and beam wing, for a circuit-specific drag range.
However, Mercedes will reinstate the scraped floor in the Spa with slight modifications. Subsequently, the squad has not introduced any upgrades to the Dutch GP. Similarly, Ferrari is going with a similar setup to the one used in the last race. Moreover, Aston Martin and Stakes have skipped the upgrades for the Zandvoort race.
Marko Dissapointed After FP2 In Zandvoort
During the second free practice session, McLaren and Mercedes outpaced Red Bull, a fact noted by Red Bull’s advisor. He acknowledged that while Red Bull performed well, McLaren and Mercedes excelled in single-lap speed and long runs. He anticipates a particularly intriguing event with varying tire strategies and adaptations, especially given the forecast for wet conditions during qualifying.
Red Bull Racing has introduced several recent updates but hasn’t delivered the expected improvements. Helmut Marko had even referred to them as “down dates” previously. At Zandvoort, Marko introduced new changes but refrained from calling them updates, instead referring to them as “modifications.” When questioned about his earlier “down dates” remark, Marko simply smiled and walked away towards Red Bull’s hospitality area.
