Red Bull RB4 F1

Red Bull



Just a twenty minute drive from Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keynes headquarters, the sun is shining brightly over a nice dry track at Silverstone Circuit. However, we chose to drive to the southern tip of Europe to launch our 2008 challenger, the RB4, at the Jerez track, where grey skies and rain are the order of the day. Despite the wet track, David Coulthard completed an installation lap early this morning. “It’s great to see a new car come together,” he commented. “Inevitably, a lot of parts were still arriving last night, so when I left for my bed it looked a bit bare, but this morning, there it was in all its glory! It looks super with lots of nice detail on it and given that it did its installation lap and came back to the garage, so far we have achieved all our targets! Now we have to build from there”.



Anxiously watching from the pit wall was team principal, Christian Horner: “It’s always a key moment to see a new car run for the first time,” he said. “And particularly in the case of RB4, that first lap represents a monumental amount of work from the entire workforce. Over the last few weeks, all the departments have made Herculean efforts to get the car ready for this shakedown today”.

Panasonic Toyota TF109

TF109 – or Toyota Formula 1 2009 to give it its full name – is hot property. The first images revealed a stunning production which combines the latest technology with a very human passion to succeed. This potent combination has been working on TF109 since October 2007.

In a departure from recent Panasonic Toyota Racing productions, TF109 takes on a new shape, dictated by the FIA, with wider front wings, narrower rear wings and fewer additional aerodynamic devices the fashion for 2009.

The script may be different but Panasonic Toyota Racing has set its usual high targets for TF109. Chairman and Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina states: "Our target this year is to fight to win the first race for Toyota in Formula 1."

TF109 is the sequel to the successful TF108, which once again established Panasonic Toyota Racing as a major player. TF108`s roll of honour included two podiums, one front row start and, with 56, more points than in 2006 (35pts) and 2007 (13pts) combined. A Toyota was in the top 10 on the starting grid for 14 of the 18 Grands Prix, finishing in the points 12 times, with nine top-six finishes.

President John Howett says: "After eight years in Formula 1 we have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably. There are many elements of our team which are at the very highest level so the challenge now is to fill any gaps and ensure the entire organisation is performing at the very top. Then we must put all the elements together and deliver the success we are all fighting so hard for."

Renault R29 F1 - Formula 1 racing car

Following Renault`s improving performance in 2008, the new R29 is a development in design philosophy aimed at extracting maximum performance from the new aero regulations, slick Bridgestone tyres, and KERS system, whilst further developing the strong features of the R28.

With such radical rules coming into force, particularly with respect to aerodynamics, the team placed great emphasis on maximising the R29's time in the wind tunnel, with aero development already underway by February 2008.

CFD has also played a considerable role in the design of the car and has been particularly valuable in understanding the interaction of the aerodynamic package as a whole.

There has been a concerted effort to save as much weight as possible on the R29 to allow for the introduction of the KERS system. As a result, the design team has moved towards using alternative materials and construction methods, such as the carbon-titanium gearbox casing, increased use of MMC aluminium and magnesium.

Renault started the design work of the KERS system in 2007 in conjunction with Magnetti-Marelli. The system consists of a motor-generator, which is connected to the front of the engine (this charges the battery on braking and releases the energy under acceleration), a battery pack located in the chassis and a KERS control unit.

The front end of the car is dominated by the 2009 aero specification wide front wing which has a driver controlled adjustable incidence flap.

This looks very different to previous years being much closer to the ground and has much greater influence on the air flow over the tyres due to its increased span. Great attention has therefore been paid to the end plates which have become much more critical devices than they have been in previous years. The front end also has a more radical front suspension layout with new geometry including inclined wishbones and higher monocoque in order to maximise the new slick tyres and improve aerodynamic efficiency.

The rear of the monocoque under the bodywork has changed considerably with the integration of the KERS system, which has taken a lot of effort to package neatly for the minimum weight. The introduction of this new technology has also influenced the car's aero package with careful consideration paid to ensure sufficient cooling.

The bodywork appendages, such as winglets, flicks and chimneys have now largely disappeared with the 2009 aero regulations. The surfaces are therefore much simpler and more streamlined, although the R29 still incorporates the R28-type dorsal fin and flush exhaust exits seen on previous Renault F1 cars. The 2009 rear wing is narrower and higher and reverts back to the centrally-supported single pylon design first introduced on the R26.

The four-race gearbox has a brand new carbon-titanium main case to save weight, and an improved gearshift system developed on the R28, which has also reduced weight and improves performance.

The R29 therefore shares little in common with its predecessor with much of the car designed from a clean sheet of paper. This is particularly true of the aerodynamic package where efforts in the past have concentrated on evolutionary design. The technical team has risen to the challenges of this shake-up in the rules and looks forward to seeing the results of their efforts on the racetrack.

Chassis
Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by the Renault F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member.

Front suspension
Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torsion bar and damper units which are mounted inside the front of the monocoque. MMC aluminium uprights and machined magnesium wheels.

Rear suspension
Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operating angled torsion bars and transverse-mounted damper units mounted on the top of the gearbox casing. MMC aluminium uprights and machined magnesium wheels.

Transmission
Seven-speed semi-automatic carbon-titanium gearbox with reverse gear. 'Quickshift' system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts.

Fuel system
Kevlar-reinforced rubber fuel cell by ATL.

KERS
Motor generator unit driving into front of engine with batteries as an energy store.

Cooling system
Separate oil and water radiators located in the car`s sidepods and cooled using airflow from the car`s forward motion.

Electrical
MES-Microsoft Standard Electronic Control Unit. Magnetti-Marelli KERS control unit.

Braking system
Carbon discs and pads (Hitco); calipers and master cylinders by AP Racing.

Cockpit
Removable driver's seat made of anatomically formed carbon composite, with six-point harness seat belt. Steering wheel integrates gear change and clutch paddles, front flap adjuster and KERS energy release controls.Source - Renault