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'Rear of the RB15 is not correctly balanced'

Published on 20 Feb 2019 11:57
8
By: Fergal Walsh

2019 sees a new era for Red Bull Racing as the team takes on a new engine supplier. After twelve seasons with Renault engines, this year the team is using Honda power units. The switch to Honda seems to have gone well so far, as everyone is optimistic and cheerful.

However, rumours have also come out that there are vibrations in the Honda engine which could prevent Red Bull Racing from going at full speed during testing. Marc Priestley revealed that he had heard from sources at Honda and Red Bull that there were too many vibrations in the Honda engine.

Explanation of the vibrations

The basis is that there should be vibrations in every engine, otherwise an engine is 'dead'. The question is how much vibration is present. There is always a certain strength in terms of vibrations and given the relationship between Honda with Toro Rosso in 2018, Red Bull Racing chief technical director Adrian Newey has had at least half a year with access to data and information.

If there are vibrations coming from the engine, it should be no surprise to Red Bull. If there is a problem at all, it's more to do with the strength, or weakness, of the RB15's chassis around the engine.

There is no issue having a vibration with the engine at low revs if it ticks over as the revs rise. The problems start when the engine is at high revs and there are still vibrations coming from the engine.

Source of rumours

Research was conducted this morning as GPToday.net called Marc Priestley to ask what exactly he heard and who the source is. The story Marc told in his video comes from a former Red Bull Racing team member who left at the end of last year, so he is no longer with the team and is also not in Barcelona.

A well established technical source in the paddock told GPToday.net: "The problem is not so much the engine but the complete rear. That is not yet in balance and therefore it doesn't run as they want at Red Bull Racing.

Red Bull Racing told us in a comment that it is 'not in the position to react to this information'.

F1 News Red Bull Racing

Replies (8)

Kean

Posts: 692
I would have guessed that Honda had those vibration problems sorted since their time with McLaren, and last year there were no rumors surrounding vibrations coming out of STR.
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- Feb 20 2019 - 14:18
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  That's because it didn't have those issues that year. But this is a new season, and with a new season, new issues might show. Remember: vibrations aren't specific to Honda: Mercedes too had decent issues with vibrations during this winter before apparently fixing them. If the issue is on Honda, there is still ample time to amend it. If the issue is on RB, they'll need to solve the integration and rebalance the rear.
  + 0
  
  Feb 20 2019 - 19:28
boudy

Posts: 1,168
They are masters of improving their car. If that is an issue it will be an temporary one. The reliability of all PUs look good however they are running in a cool environment at the moment. Next weeks testing will tell us more on how they are
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- Feb 20 2019 - 18:41
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
I've never been one to mind a little wiggle in a good looking rear end. As long as it doesn't affect performance of course.
- + 0
- Feb 20 2019 - 19:03
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Gee thanks Ram. Now I'll have that wiggle wiggle song on my head all night.
  + 0
  
  Feb 20 2019 - 19:25
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
An unbalanced rear is never a good thing. Imagine having one buttock that's too big or too small.
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- Feb 20 2019 - 19:25
- Kean
  
  Posts: 692
  That feels worse when you run.
  + 0
  
  Feb 20 2019 - 21:28
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  And imagine sitting on a bike.
  + 0
  
  Feb 21 2019 - 07:43