Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko has responded to reports the team has failed one of the FIA's crash tests ahead of the new season.
RacingNews365 understands that the reigning double F1 World Champions failed its initial frontal impact test for the new RB20 in preparation for its title defence. The Front Impact Structure Dynamic Test is just one of many that must be passed, though there was no question of panic within Red Bull's ranks.
Speaking to F1 Insider, Marko - who will continue at Red Bull for another three years after signing a new contract - failed to confirm or deny whether the test was failed. "If we had passed the first crash test, that would be precisely the problem. Then we wouldn't have done well!"
Marko's comments indicate that Red Bull, which secured victory in all but one race last season as Max Verstappen clinched a third successive Drivers' title, is thus looking to push the limits again this year, even though the RB19 was so dominant.
Were they not, they would have passed with flying colours.
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Feersumenjin
Curious to know if these crash test chassis are in or out of the budget cap. Also, last year it was reported albeit briefly that RB had come up with a lighter Carbon Fibre weave, that news dissapeared very quickly so what happened there. Once again I have to recall the old adage when Newey was at Mac. Yeah, we take Adrians designs and add 50% more material to em before we race it;). Newey is the ultimate weight weenie, learned a lot from Colin Chapman.
Bohunkgearhead
I do not know for certain, but I do not see why they would not be covered under the budget cap. Every team has to pass the crash tests. Yeah, I remember that Colin Chapman was a fanatic about car weight back in the 1960's .
Emmanuel
He still did not answer the question of the crash test. Probably need to probe more to know the status.
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Bohunkgearhead
While failing a crash test would certainly be a learning experience, I do not see it as a positive. That is like an engine shop saying they learned after blowing up a new engine. Yes, they did learn, but they should not be bragging.