Red Bull RB10

Red Bull RB10
Category Formula One
Constructor Red Bull
Designer(s) Adrian Newey[1]
Predecessor Red Bull RB9
Successor Red Bull RB11
Technical specifications[2]
Chassis Composite monocoque structure
Suspension (front) Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon-composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear) Same as front
Engine Renault Energy F1-2014 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6, turbo
Transmission Red Bull Technology 8-speed semi-automatic
Weight 691 kg (1,523 lb)
Fuel Total Excellium 94.25% 102 RON unleaded gasoline + 5.75% biofuel
Lubricants Total Quartz 9000 5W10
Tyres Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
Competition history
Notable entrants Infiniti Red Bull Racing
Notable drivers 1. Germany Sebastian Vettel[3]
3. Australia Daniel Ricciardo[4]
Debut 2014 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
1931203

The Red Bull RB10 is a Formula One racing car designed by Adrian Newey for Infiniti Red Bull Racing to compete in the 2014 Formula One season.[1][5] It was driven by reigning World Drivers' Champion Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, who was promoted from sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso after Mark Webber announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the 2013 season.[3][4] The RB10 was designed to use Renault Sport's new 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engine, the Renault Energy F1-2014.[6]

The car was launched on 28 January 2014 at the Circuito de Jerez.[7] Keeping with the tradition of naming his race cars, Sebastian Vettel named the RB10 as "Suzie".[8]

Design and development

The early stages of the RB10's development were seriously limited by several recurring issues, with the team managing less than 100 kilometres (62 miles) of running during the first test in Jerez de la Frontera, less than any other team which attended the test.[9] The team—like fellow Renault-powered outfits Scuderia Toro Rosso and Caterham—were affected first by problems with the physical Renault Energy F1-2014 unit that prevented the individual components of the power unit from working together. Once these issues were resolved, the team experienced problems with the software governing the turbo unit. Red Bull also suffered from unique problems arising from the tight packaging of the RB10 chassis, which caused temperatures within the car to climb so high that parts started to burn.[10]

The team's problems continued during the second test at the Bahrain International Circuit, where they were forced to run with the Energy Recovery System (ERS) disabled on Renault's advice, robbing the RB10 of up to 150 horsepower (112 kW). Although Sebastian Vettel was able to complete over seventy laps of the circuit on the first of four days of testing, the team completed less than forty more over the remaining three days as the chassis was further plagued by mechanical issues. As the test ended, Red Bull had completed fewer laps than any other team save for Lotus and Marussia, and the fastest times recorded by Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo were outside 107% of the fastest time recorded during the test; had the test been treated as a qualifying session, neither Vettel nor Ricciardo would have qualified for a race.

The final test of the season—also held in Bahrain—was little better; although Ricciardo recorded the car's fastest lap time, it was still two and a half seconds slower than the fastest lap time recorded by Felipe Massa. When Vettel returned to the car, he failed to complete a lap before the car broke down, and team principal Christian Horner admitted the team had no idea when the problems with the car would be fixed.

Season summary

The start of the season was unfortunate for Red Bull, with technical problems causing Vettel to retire in the opening laps of the Australian Grand Prix. A second-place finish for Ricciardo was stripped due to illegal fuel flow throughout the race.[11][12] Despite warnings from officials throughout the race, Red Bull used their own fuel flow system rather than the mandated FIA item, claiming the FIA unit was faulty.

Vettel was able to achieve third place in Malaysia, though a botched pit stop and front wing damage forced Ricciardo to retire from the race. Ricciardo and Vettel would both go on to finish in the points at the Bahrain Grand Prix, finishing fourth and sixth, respectively. They would repeat this feat once more at the Chinese Grand Prix, with Ricciardo finishing fourth again, and Vettel behind him in fifth. The form of the RB10 improved at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Ricciardo achieved a third-place finish, and Vettel finished fourth, also ending Mercedes's streak of setting the fastest laps of every race. Ricciardo repeated a third place podium finish in Monaco, managing to hound Lewis Hamilton in a battle for second after the latter had problems with his vision. Conversely, Vettel retired early on due to power unit issues.

The RB10 took its first win of the 2014 season when Ricciardo won the seventh race of the season, in Canada. The win was also Ricciardo's first in Formula One, while Vettel was also able to record his second podium finish of the season, finishing in third place. Red Bull were not able to repeat a great result at its home race in Austria, with Ricciardo finishing in eighth, and Vettel retiring for the third time, due to a lack of power, and later front wing damage. Ricciardo and Vettel bounced back to place third and fifth, respectively in Britain.

Ricciardo gave the RB10 its second and third wins at the Hungarian and the Belgian Grands Prix respectively. The team finished second in the Constructors' Championship, with Ricciardo finishing third in the Drivers' Championship, beating Vettel, who finished fifth.

At the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, the Red Bulls were excluded from qualifying for having a front wing which was over the wing flex limits. As a result, the Red Bull cars were sent to the back of the grid. The team was, however, able to claw back a decent result with Daniel Ricciardo finishing fourth and the departing Sebastian Vettel finishing in eighth place.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
AUS MAL BHR CHN ESP MON CAN AUT GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN JPN RUS USA BRA ABU‡
2014 Red Bull Racing Renault Energy
F1-2014 V6		 P Sebastian Vettel Ret 3 6 5 4 Ret 3 Ret 5 4 7 5 6 2 3 8 7 5 8 405 2nd
Daniel Ricciardo DSQ Ret 4 4 3 3 1 8 3 6 1 1 5 3 4 7 3 Ret 4

‡ — Teams and drivers scored double points at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Red Bull RB10.
  1. 1 2 "Newey reveals that 2014 Red Bull RB10 is ugly". GrandPrix 247. 11 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "Red Bull RB10". F1technical.net. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 Beer, Matt (14 March 2011). "Horner pleased to end Vettel rumours". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 Noble, Jonathan (2 September 2013). "Red Bull confirms Daniel Ricciardo for F1 2014". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Newey to miss Japan to focus his attention on 2014 Red Bull RB10". 10 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "F1 WITH ADDED ENERGY". RedBull.com. 21 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Red Bull to launch 2014 car, the RB10, in pitlane on first morning of Jerez test". Sky Sports F1. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Baldwin, Alan (11 March 2014). "Vettel opts for Suzie as name for his 2014 car". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  9. ↑ Tremayne, Sam (1 February 2014). "Jerez F1 2014 test: Magnussen fastest as Mercedes racks up miles". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  10. ↑ Noble, Jonathan (30 January 2014). "No full fix for Renault's problems before Bahrain Formula 1 test". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo disqualified from the results of the Australian GP". Skysports F1. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  12. ↑ Benson, Andrew (16 March 2014). "Rosberg wins after Lewis Hamilton and Vettel retire". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
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