Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing’s motorsport advisor, has admitted that the team’s 2022 F1 machine, the RB18, is one of those suffering from overweight issues.
Last week, a pre-season test on a brand new F1 car took place at the Catalunya circuit, leading Lewis Hamilton and George Russell 1-2, followed by Red Bull Racing’s Sergio Perez in third place.
Red Bull Racing has made it to the top of the timesheet, but team motorsport advisor Helmut Marko says the RB18 suffers from the big problem of overweight.
This year, F1 has increased its minimum weight by 43kg to 795kg. However, the F1 team is said to be struggling to reach that threshold.
Auto Motor und Sport reports that one F1 team boss has stated that some cars are “two orders of magnitude more than the minimum weight.”
Since it is the minimum weight, there is no problem if it is above it, but usually the F1 team is below the minimum weight in the original state and adjusts so that the minimum weight can be cleared with ballast etc. For example, at the Catalunya circuit, it is estimated that 10 kg is equivalent to 0.3 seconds.
A significant portion of that increase is with Pirelli’s 18-inch wheels and tires, but the larger the wheels, the bigger the brakes. In addition, the structure of the chassis has been changed to improve safety, and the weight has been increased.
Helmut Marko reveals that last year’s driver’s championship winner Red Bull Racing is having a hard time reducing weight from the RB18.
“The only problem we have is weight, but every team has that problem,” Helmut Marko told Motorsport-Magazin.com.
“Thankfully, the minimum weight has already been raised, but there’s still a lot to do before the first race.”
Helmut Marko hopes they will agree to a minimum weight increase at the F1 team representatives’ meeting.
“Let’s see if there are any other increases,” added Helmut Marko.
However, it is unlikely that 8 out of 10 teams will agree in order for the increase to be written to the rules at this last minute. It is doubtful that only two teams have succeeded in lowering the car to the minimum weight.
However, Helmut Marko seems to think that only one team has actually achieved it.
“All but one team suffers from weight issues,” Helmut Marko said.
Auto Motor und Sport claims that one team is Alfa Romeo and McLaren is “not too far”.
“Only Alfa Romeo shouldn’t have a problem,” Auto Motor und Sport said.
“The McLaren MCL36 is said to have just added a little too much flesh.”
Helmut Marko evaluated the power map at the Catalunya circuit last week. Ferrari looked good “once”, but questioned “how many fuels they had” and for McLaren, their lap time was “chasing the sponsor” only. Said it was.
Category: Category: F1 / Red bull
