Red Bull RB6 - The beginning of an era
The Red Bull RB6 was the winning car of the 2010 Formula 1 championship, described as probably the car with the most downforce in the history.
Similar to its predecessor
The Red Bull RB6 was the successor of the RB5 car which was the fastest in the second half of the previous season but the new model was developed to reach the peak. The preparation was long and Red Bull missed first winter testing. After the first track tests made in February of 2010, team’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey was happy with the results.
Red Bull RB6 detail from behind showing the new diffuser specification
Despite looking pretty similar to its predecessor, RB6 had many improvements. The nose cone has been made a little bit wider, the steering arms were a little bit lower than before, while the barge boards had the jagged edge but a real achievement was putting in a much larger fuel tank, because of the new regulations, and keeping the sidepods heavily undercut. The exhaust position was changed as well as the engine cooling outlet and diffuser shape.
Slow start of the 2010 Formula 1 season
Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were the drivers of Red Bull Racing in 2010 and the German won his first of four consecutive titles, even after relatively poor start of the year. He finished 4th in the Bahrain Grand Prix, while the Australian was 8th. Technical problems forced Vettel to retire in Australia and Webber finished 9th.
Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing, RB6
The fortune overturned in the Malaysian Grand Prix where Red Bull drivers scored first of four 1-2 finishes. Vettel won the race and moved up to the 3rd place in the championship. The Chinese Grand Prix was a step backward after Vettel took 6th and Webber 8th place. After that race, the things have improved. The Australian driver won two races in a row, in Spain and in Monaco, while Vettel finished 3rd at Catalunya and 2nd at Monaco. After the first third of the campaign, Webber and Vettel were on the top of the standings with 78 points, three ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.
Webber was ahead of Vettel most of the season
The Turkish Grand Prix probably was the worst moment of the year for the team after Vettel crashed into Webber in a try to overtake him and take the lead. German had to retire while Webber managed to finish the race and take 3rd position. In the Canadian Grand Prix Vettel finished 4th and Webber 5th. The following race was European Grand Prix in Valencia where Vettel scored his second victory.
Red Bulls crashed in Turkish Grand Prix
Webber fought back in the British Grand Prix, scoring his third win of the season, but Vettel managed to finish only the 7th at Silverstone. After the first half of the campaign, Webber was in the 3rd position in the Drivers’ championship with an advantage of 7 points to his teammate who was on the 4th place. Their backlog to the leader Lewis Hamilton was pretty big and the chances in the championship battle weren’t bright.
The following two races were in Germany and Hungary. Vettel finished 3rd in both, while Mark was 6th at Hockenheim and won the race at Hungaroring. The Belgium Grand Prix was disastrous for Vettel who finished 15th after damaging his RB6, but Webber took 2nd place. The Italian Grand Prix at Monza was another race in which both drivers missed a podium spot after Sebastian finished 4th and Mark 6th.
Thrilling finish of the F1 season
Five races before the end of the season, Webber was on the top of the standings with 187 points. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was five points behind, Alonso was 3rd with 166, Button was 4th with 165 and Vettel was 5th with 163 points. At that point, nobody was thinking that Vettel can become the champion.
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, RB6
However, in the Singapore Grand Prix, the German finished 2nd and Webber was 3rd. The Japanese Grand Prix was even better for Red Bull after Vettel won the race in front of his teammate what was the third 1-2 finish that year. The Korean Grand Prix was the only race in which both drivers of Red Bull RB6 retired. Webber crashed with Nico Rosberg on lap 18 and Vettel retired on lap 45 after engine failure. With only two races before the end, Alonso was the championship leader with 231 points, Webber had 220, Hamilton 210, and Vettel on 4th position had 206 points on his account.
Vettel won the title with a bit of luck
The situation in the championship battle became even more interesting after the Brazilian Grand Prix. Vettel won the race in front of Webber, Alonso, and Hamilton to keep his title hopes alive. Before the last race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Alonso led the standings with 246 points, Webber was 2nd with 238 and Vettel was 3rd 231 points.
However, the German was fortune’s favorite. He clinched the maiden title by winning the race from pole position. Fernando Alonso finished the race at the 7th place and as the championship runner-up, four points short to Vettel who eclipsed Lewis Hamilton as the youngest World Champion in the Formula 1 history. Finally, Webber was 8th in the final race and 3rd in the final standings, 14 points behind his teammate.
Red Bull racing celebrating the 2010 double at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
During the 2010 Formula 1 season, the Red Bull RB6’s drivers scored 9 wins, 20 podiums, 15 pole positions and 6 fastest laps. The team also won the Constructors’ championship beating McLaren by 44 points. Looking at those numbers, it was obvious that RB6 was the fastest car on the grid and more than a solid foundation for the forthcoming triumphs.
The Red Bull RB6 technical specifications
Chassis: Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house
Front suspension: Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon-composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, multimatic dampers
Rear suspension: Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon-composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, multimatic dampers
Brakes: Brembo calipers, Brembo carbon discs, and pads
Electronics: FIA (MESL) standard control unit
Engine type: Renault RS27 – 2010
Configuration: 90 degrees V8
Capacity: 2400cc
Max RPM: 18.000 rpm (limit mandated by FIA)
Number of Valves: 32
Engine construction: Cylinder block in cast aluminum
Engine management: FIA (MESL) standard control unit TAG310B
Engine weight: FIA minimum weight of 95kg
Oil: Total Group
Gearbox: Seven-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation
Clutch: AP Racing
Fuel: Total Group
Wheels: OZ Racing (front 32.2cm x 33cmrear: 34cm x 33cm)
Tires: Bridgestone
Total weight: 620kg
