The 2018 Formula 1 British Grand Prix saw a close fight between the three leading teams Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing this season.
After Lewis Hamilton’s early spin in British GP, the British driver complained of an unstable car fearing that it got damaged in the accident. However, the Mercedes pitwall suggested otherwise seeing no damage on the data.
It was later revealed that Hamilton was caught out by the dirty air while following the other cars to pass them – something which has been an issue for Mercedes all along. In the clear air, Hamilton reported of a better and a balanced feeling.
At the same time, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen had a duel with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the middle of the race. The Finn and the Dutchman went back and forth for track position with Raikkonen eventually taking it.
But it didn’t come easy for the Finn as he alluded to an issue like Hamilton. Post race, Raikkonen admitted that it was difficult to follow the Red Bull of Verstappen and also Daniel Ricciardo in the race, while it was not so much behind the Mercedes.
“The beginning [of the race] was far from ideal [as we know],” he started. “I locked a wheel and hit Lewis on the rear-right corner. Then we served the penalty and it was tricky with Red Bull for whatever reason.
“Every time we got close to them or behind them it seems to be very difficult to follow them, seems to be just different than any other car. We had some fights with them at the beginning of the race and at the end and managed to finally get past them.
“I think the Mercedes was somehow more easy to follow. Must less effect on my car. We got a pretty decent run out of three every lap, got the momentum and managed to pass. So, it was OK but obviously but far from ideal. That’s how it goes.”
It is well known that Mercedes has the problem of following other cars, but Ferrari so far has managed it better in this regard, but it seems the Finn was being troubled by the Red Bull. Formula Rapida asked two of the leading technical experts on this matter.
Here’s their explanation on what made Red Bull much more harder to follow for Raikkonen than Mercedes or any other car in Silverstone – which they feel could be track specific and the wake profile of the cars:
Matthew Somerfield‘s take:
“From an aerodynamic philosophy they’re [Mercedes and Red Bull] very different. Obviously, Red Bull run with a very high rake when compared to Mercedes which will have a little effect, but I would have thought that was negligible.
“I guess where he [Raikkonen] is suggesting he was struggling is through the corners as the RB14 is extremely well balanced and perhaps has more peak downforce, thereby making them a different proposition.
“The wake profile of every car is very different and so no matter who they come against they’ll surely notice some differences. His comments relate to the Red Bull’s unique downforce and traction characteristics which clearly suited certain parts of the Silverstone track making it difficult for him to find the overspeed needed to overtake them.”
Will Tyson‘s view:
“Every car has a unique wake profile, but the Red Bull is especially different given how much rake angle they run. This essentially creates a larger turbulent wake as there is more frontal area of the car exposed to the air and doing more work on it.
“And the Red Bull is probably working the air harder than the Mercedes anyway given that it has the slightly better chassis.”
