Daniel Ricciardo has revealed some details about the “big” aerodynamic updates Red Bull are bringing for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Milton Keynes outfit has been making progress with the RB13 chassis since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, as famed designer Adrian Newey looks to solve early collaboration issues with the new 2017 design.
Though the next upgrade is still not expected to bring Red Bull in line with main rivals Ferrari and Mercedes, however, the Australian, who won at the Hungaroring three years ago, hopes it can bring them closer.
Asked what will be new on the car on Friday, Ricciardo said: “Basically just big aero type updates.
“When I say big, does big mean it is a second of lap time? Probably not. But big in terms of different kind of shaping and philosophy to what we have run so far. Bits are in different places.
“There is a bit on the front wing, but then there is a bit with sidepods and stuff. It is all aero, hopefully, it all works together and gives us the lap time that we desire.
“It is a combination of things but in the wind tunnel, it looks like it should help downforce and hopefully that gives us the lap time.
“It is mainly purely aero stuff for now.”
The main weakness Red Bull continue to have is with the Renault power unit which so far has been both underpowered and lacked reliability compared to those around them.
Single lap pace is where those teams noticeably lose out with Ferrari and particularly Mercedes able to extract performance Ricciardo can only dream of.
“In performance qualifying mode we don’t have what Mercedes have, their qualifying mode is ridiculous,” he claimed.
“But in racing, we are running in our race trim power like we saw in Austria until Lewis was able to turn it up, we are not too shabby, we can kind of race with them if they are not using a qualifying mode. So performance on a Sunday is getting there.”
On reliability too, Max Verstappen has suffered several failures and Ricciardo had to start the last race at Silverstone from the back of the grid after a turbo issue in Q1 in qualifying.
“I was with Renault the last couple of days and earlier this weekend, every reliability failure we’ve had there has been an explanation for it,” the four-time Grand Prix winner commented.
“So there has been a cure for all of those, but there are still some vulnerabilities which we are well aware of.
“They think they have got on top of most of them, but it doesn’t mean we are not going to have another one,” he warned.
The twisty layout of the Hungaroring traditionally suits the strength of Red Bull and Ricciardo expects that to help them once again this weekend.
“Even if we came here with the same car the track generally gives us something, so we will get closer regardless,” he said while considering the impact of the upgrades.
“Ideally this all works and then we get a bit more. It is a track I enjoy. As a driver when it is a track you like, you can find that extra tenth.”