This photo has somehow leaked from somewhere today. Buemi in the cockpit. At first glance this definitely looks like RB7 with a '12 spec nose. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very much so. It may be the light conditions, but the nose really doesn't seem to be made for this chasiss. Looks very crude at the nose flange area.
Question is what about the rear/exhaust area. I can see this being the real car potentially. The most affected area is the exhaust/rear area. True??
I messed with the levels so you can see more detail of the rear of the car. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Maybe it's the angle/lighting but it appears to me that this car doesn't have the raised edges on the sides of the car where the top suspension piece mounted. The 'nostrils' so to speak... Like in this photo: http://images.automodifiedesign.com/2011/02/2011-Red-Bull-RB7-test-at-the-Circuit-Ricardo-Tormo-in-Valencia-1.jpg
Good job MrB! - Thanks. Man, it's tight back there..... +1 on the nose not being "right". More significantly, where are they and what are they doing? When was the pic taken? Pretty certain it's in the UK (weather sucks!) but beyond that have no idea. I *guess* they may be doing some straight line testing - Dunno how much they're allowed, but IIRC it's outside of the testing ban. Cheers, Ian PS - Yep, it certainly appears the distinctive "nostrils" are gone too.
There is almost no sidepod it seems, it just melts away so quickly. Its amazing they can keep the thing cool.
Good question!..... Kimi is scheduled to run in Valencia ahead of the official tests - From Autosport; I believe it has to be at least two years old, and further that pic looks like the new car (much tighter at the rear), so it wouldn't be allowed to run other than (limited) straight line tests. But I could be wrong! Cheers, Ian
I'd likely guess it's a straight line test and the source where I located this picture has since had the pic removed from the website! I know it's either from today or yesterday as that is Buemi in the seat and I heard RB were running somewhere or other this week testing.
I'm wondering if they too are doing something interesting with their radiators a la as MB W03 is rumored to be doing.
I am more and more convinced this is either RB8 or RB7 with a different nose, floor, and sidepods. Note how much more exposed area there is at the floor between the sidepods and corner of the floor. Typically we see the sidepods coming up close to the edge of the floor but this design clearly has tons more room there meaning the floor is acting a huge amount more effectively not only in the middle of the car but also directing a ton more airflow around the car to the back. I could be wrong though. Image Unavailable, Please Login
To compensate for the loss of the EBD, how else would one generate additional downforce. Shrink the pods and expand the floor? Ferrari are paying alot of attention to their floor. Im sure Newey is as well as we see here potentially? Great find! Thanks for sharing with us.
To me that looks like an RB7... I can't see any reason why not. The RB7 already had tiny sidepots, had the same EBD and rear heat vent. This pic of the RB7 launch even shows identical light reflection on the nose: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01816/red-bull_1816119c.jpg I also find the nose on pilotos pic appears to be too high for 2012 regs. Also the highlighted floor next to the sidepots look not new: http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/img/9598171-1296582542000/topTeaser_crop_Nase-und-Frontfl-gel-haben-beim-RB7-ein-markantes-Aussehen.jpg Not the best shot of it but one can see what I suspect as being the same... overall I don't see any novelty, but a lot that reminds me of the RB7. Only question is, why waste straight line tests on the RB7. Either get Buemi used to the car or they experiment with certain things (e.g. internal cooling, Renault-style ride height or a million other things..)
I think 2 things : 1) The nose looks funny. Doesn't seem to suit the car. Could be cut and paste. 2) The testing ban is pretty confusing. I mean, like Ian pointed out. Straight line testing?
