Thread by @JunaidSamodien_

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT - Red Bull races in a class of its own. In Baku, the competition was more than 20 seconds behind. Red Bull is also unbeatable on the straight. Everyone is puzzled by the RB19's DRS effect.

Red Bull is beatable in one round. Ferrari made it twice in Baku. But as soon as the lights go out at the starting lights, Red Bull is driving in a world of its own.

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After 51 laps the fastest Ferrari was trailed by 21, the fastest Aston Martin by 22 and the fastest Mercedes by 46 seconds. The midfield finished 80 seconds behind.

#AMuS

Max and Checo can live with having a Ferrari dancing in front of them at the start of the race. At the latest when DRS can be activated, the opponents have no chance. Leclerc was due after 8 laps in the sprint and three in the race. Then the Red Bulls flew past him.

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The competition is starting to worry more and more. Because Red Bull is in a different league with its DRS effect. In Baku overtaking was hard work even with the wing open. Many followed their opponent for an entire race, even though they were significantly faster.

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Lewis Hamilton behind Carlos Sainz, George Russell behind Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg behind Esteban Ocon.

If there was an overtaking manoeuvre, the man in front must have made a serious mistake. As did the Stroll at Turn 16, which gave Hamilton a chance to overtake at the....

[....] end of the home stretch. And it was still a tour de force. After the activation point in turn 20, Hamilton needed to get to the finish line to level with him.

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The Red Bull pilots are completely different. They inhaled Leclerc's Ferrari as if it were a Formula 2 car. Perez and Verstappen were able to swing back onto the ideal line before the braking point. The Red Bull in front would also be vulnerable in an internal duel.

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Perez admitted after the race: "I had to keep Max out of the DRS area at all costs. Otherwise I would have been due." In the sprint, the Mexican Leclerc kept in his DRS zone for a long time to give the Ferrari driver protection from Verstappen.

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The teammate was the opponent, not Leclerc. Even with the rear wing open, the Ferrari was no threat to Perez. Because the Red Bull is generally the fastest car on the straights. Only Williams can keep up with that. And the DRS advantage at Ferrari is far too small.

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The good basic speed can still be explained. The RB19 is the most aerodynamically efficient car in the field. The rivals are concerned with two other questions. Why does the Red Bull gain so much more speed than any other car when DRS is activated?

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And why does the speed advantage build up abruptly after opening the flap while the competition's cars keep getting faster?

In Baku, the speed delta with and without DRS was easy to read at the measuring points. The speed measurement T1 was just before the activation point.

So close the rear wing. The finish line was 500 meters behind the DRS start. With rear wing on. Red Bull won an average of 22 km/h, Aston Martin 15, Mercedes 13 and Ferrari 8.

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But what is more important is the speed profile as soon as the driver presses the DRS button. At Red Bull, the speed curve is pointing steeply upwards. For all others, the speed builds up rather leisurely.

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This explains why the Red Bulls attach themselves to the cars in front of them as soon as the DRS is activated.

Does Red Bull play with targeted stall?
Nobody knows exactly what Red Bull is doing. "We have to find out because this is a clear competitive advantage," says Vasseur.

One theory is that when the flap is open on the RB19, the flow structures in the rear change in such a way that a stall occurs on the diffuser and on the beam wing under the rear wing at the same time. That would further reduce drag.

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What trick did Red Bull find?
Then there is the suspicion that the car will lower itself at top speed, the ground will make contact with the road and this will cause a stall. It is noticeable that the Red Bull mechanics on the grid, as in the days of.....

[....] utmost secrecy, erect themselves like a wall in the rear of the car to ward off prying eyes and photographers.

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Anyone who thinks Red Bull has unpacked a trick bordering on legality is wrong. After his victory in Melbourne, Verstappen's car was put through its paces, especially with a view to....

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[....] the chassis (dampers, springs, sensors for measuring the spring deflection). FIA verdict: Everything conforms to the rules.

READ THE FULL STORY FROM AMuS HERE auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/drs-r…