The Crimson Bull RB17 is astonishing. Twelve-hundred horsepower, from a 4.5-liter V-10, a sub-2,000-pound curb weight, and able to as much as 3,747 kilos of downforce. Adrian Newey, Crimson Bull’s soon-departing design genius and the principle thoughts behind the RB17, spoke to media on the automobile’s Goodwood Pageant of Velocity debut Friday and revealed one other astonishing determine—in latest simulation testing, the RB17 was faster than a contemporary Method 1 automobile. A couple of second a lap faster than the pole time round Silverstone for final week’s British Grand Prix.
“This automobile is one thing that by its make-up with the energetic suspension, the tailor-made downforce relying on the velocity and settings and so forth, the steadiness changes we will construct into it by the energetic suspension, and three totally different tire selections, it’s a automobile that’s able to being pushed by a very good newbie who’s additionally hopefully executed some coaching with us on the simulator, and might actually really feel the automobile, after which begin to construct and develop with the automobile, by to in the end, in the suitable arms, able to Method 1 lap occasions,” Newey instructed media together with Motor1.
“In our simulations, driver-in-the-loop simulations, they might’ve comfortably been on pole in Silverstone final weekend. I can’t bear in mind the precise quantity, if I’m sincere, however [it’s about one second]. Put that into context, it’s clearly a simulation, a driver-in-the-loop simulation, so there’s all the time going to be error in that, but it surely’s in that ballpark.”
Crimson Bull
An astonishing quantity. And one which comes on a bespoke “confidential” Michelin tire developed particularly for the RB17. Just like what Michelin makes use of in LMDh and Hypercar, this tire makes use of compounds that Michelin would not even divulge to the automobile constructor. Additionally they take the tires again with them after the automobile has run.
All of this could be a bit a lot for anybody who’s identify is not Max Verstappen, however as Newey says, the automobile makes use of its energetic aero and suspension techniques to make issues extra approachable. There’s additionally two different Michelin tires, one treaded, one slick which are each designed to make life simpler for the motive force, on the expense of some efficiency. Crimson Bull Superior Applied sciences technical director Rob Grey additionally tells Motor1 that the engine has power-level modes too.
Crimson Bull will make 50 examples of the RB17 beginning subsequent 12 months. Quickly after, it will be setting very quick lap occasions at circuits world wide.