After the first spy photos of the RB20 shakedown at Silverstone two days ago, the car was officially launched on Thursday evening, with the changes to the RB20 more extensive than had been possible to identify from the shakedown images. In essence, the sidepod inlets have become a vertical slit on the sides of the cockpit, replacing the traditional design, with the concept of creating a channel between the sidepods and the floor revolutionising the shape of the air intakes. These vertical slits have been positioned where the entrance to the bypass duct is located on Ferrari's SF-24. Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey and his team have achieved the objective of catching the airflow of the lower part of the chassis, that is diverted by the wishbones of the front suspension. The solution justifies the adoption of the large circular cross-section ducts, almost bazookas) placed at the base of the engine cover and which are curved downwards. It increases the section of the air scope and of the engine cover, and was detectable in the shakedown pictures, and guarantees adequate cooling for the power unit. In short, the RB20 is a revolution under the skin and all the internal fluid dynamics of the car have been changed in order to adopt this extreme aerodynamic concept. Red Bull are perhaps taking some risks, but who knows? Let's wait and see...
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