Red Bull expected to give RB20 more powerful Mercedes-style F1 sidepod after replicating W14 concept reports

Just like their counterparts, Red Bull, the reigning powerhouse on the Formula 1 grid, is gearing up for car upgrades to maintain their unbeatable dominance in the upcoming 2024 season.

Since the unveiling of the launch event, much attention has been devoted to comparing its design, particularly the sidepods, to that of the Mercedes car.

Red Bull set to release more powerful Mercedes-style F1 sidepod

Red Bull is set to prepare for the 2024 upcoming season with a few changes in their RB20, which has caught a lot of attention from spectators recently. However, they have decided to adopt a sidepod whose style will tend to be similar to that of Mercedes but will have a more powerful impact on the car.

The team has developed a hybrid solution that combines a broader, high-waisted design with an extreme undercut, a downwashing ramp solution, and a vertical inlet behind the chassis.

Speaking about the team improvement Christian Horner stated, “Logically, there’s going to be convergence with stable regulations. We can see other cars have taken an influence from the RB19.”

“You’re constantly looking to evolve. If you look at the attention to detail on the car, there’s some really exquisite detail. There’s been no complacency, they’ve continued to evolve and continue to push the boundaries.”

Did Red Bull’s RB20 replicate Mercedes’ W14 concept?

As mentioned above, the RB20 has been widely compared to the 2023 Mercedes W14 due to its engine cover bodywork, which is complimented by a high waistline and full-length gulleys that extend from the edge of the halo.

Additionally, the team went for an overbite design where the top surface extends beyond the main intake instead of the regular underbite-lookalike sidepod inlet.

According to Motorsports.com, the design is chosen specifically for the hot weather during the pre-season testing and the first races in Bahrain, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. However, when Formula 1 heads to Japan in early April, where it’s a bit cooler, the RB20 will get an upgrade. This upgrade will follow a design similar to the zero sidepod concept seen in Mercedes, since less cooling will be needed due to the lower temperatures.

Do you think Red Bull will dominate the 2024 season too? Let us know about your opinions in the comment section below.