The veils have been removed from the new VisaCashApp RB. This is the first car from Faenza with a new name, marking a new era post-AlphaTauri. The car present in Las Vegas for the official launch is nothing more than a show car.
VCARB’s launch is focused on showcasing its livery and revealing new sponsors to the American public in style. From the renderings released by the Anglo-Italian team, they have revealed much of what will be seen at their 12 February shakedown at Misano.
Unlike most teams in Formula 1, the VCARB 01 is covered with bright colours. This year’s livery is also enriched by new and important sponsors.
The first Racing Bulls is an evolution of development work that began in 2023.
The first single-seater with Laurent Mekies at the helm wants to be “ambitious”. This is what the VCARB team Principal demands of his team this year.
Ricciardo and Tsunoda’s new car does not appear to be a carbon copy of the RB19 – at least not yet. Technical Director Jodi Eddington has maintained his own physiognomy and identity.
A significant part of the team’s post-Singapore aerodynamic developments are present on the 2024 VCARB.
Clearly, the “Red Bull-ization” process still took place over winter. However, this can also be said for most teams. The convergence in design choices is more evident than ever in this season.
It is fundamental for teams to build a strong base to build upon until the end of 2025. The new additions on the technical front – including Alan Permane, Guillame Catellani and Tim Goss – will form a highly respected team of engineers to support Eddington.
The know-how acquired during construction last season was more essential than ever. After all, Formula 1’s budget-cap era is dominated by efficiency and cost-saving.
AlphaTauri began a new direction in Singapore, and the new Racing Bulls have build upon that base.
Revised front with new arrow nose.
The front of the new VCARB is certainly the part that visually appears most renewed. The new nose, like last year, lies down to cover the main plane of the front wing.
It now has a more arrow-shaped cover, vaguely reminiscent of the solution proposed by the Ferrari F1-75.
VCARB’s front wings themselves are more regular in shape compared to the latest 2023 specification. With that said, the details are always camouflaged as they are renderings.
The endplates are largely identical to the AT04, and should already undergo a first “upgrade” in the final form of the car that will take to the track.
New chassis to house the Red Bull RB19 pull-rod suspension
The new chassis, as was now clear, has also been redesigned to house the entire suspension compartment transferable from the 2023 Red Bull.
Compared to the AT04, we move from push-rod to pull-rod, with VCARB being the second team among the cars presented to change the front layout together with the Stake Sauber.
The new chassis should also have a more “keel” shaped lower section in the lower part to facilitate the introduction of the airflow in the lower part of the car towards the bottom.
In this case, the Eddington technicians worked with a clear imprint towards Red Bull. VCARB now enjoys Red Bull’s 2023 front mechanics.
However, there is no big difference in the layout of the mirrors compared to the 2023 version, as well as the upper part of the chassis. As of yet, the roll hoop is identical to the AT04.
Radiator mouths and advanced lower lip
Floors and sidepods are the most developed aerodynamic parts in modern Formula 1. The exterior of the Racing Bulls shown above features plenty of carry-over from last year’s challenger.
A re-design can certainly be seen in the cooling inlet ports, with the lower inlet edge advanced compared to the superior. Also, in this area, the design that we have appreciated since the RB18 was a clear inspiration.
On the 2023 AlphaTauri, these inlets were more reminiscent of the Ferrari design.
Updated bellies arrive in Bahrain
The undercut and the entire body, on the other hand, are almost identical to the old single-seater. Still, from what we have learned, the car’s true appearance will be shown at the team’s upcoming shakedown.
The sides of the car that we will see in Bahrain should also have some visual differences.
VCARB’s floor is not in its final form either, although the “extra edge wing” seen in the render will feature.
Alpha Tauri-like rear end with wide bonnet and Red Bull mechanics.
At the rear of the car, there are very few differences to highlight compared to the car that completed the last race in Abu Dhabi last November.
The bonnet remains in its wide tray shape, with the vents also quite wider than the reference RB19.
Alongside this, the push-rod rear suspension from the RB19 introduced in Singapore has carried over directly to this year’s car.
As a result, it seems reasonable that Visa Cash App RB could follow the RB20’s direction as the year evolves.
The rear wing is monopylon, as it was in 2023. Meanwhile, AlphaTauri’s old design, from the DRS flap to the main profile, is unchanged.
Author: Rosario Giuliana
Translation: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
