Red Bull RB4
David Coulthard driving the RB4 during qualifying of the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorRed Bull
Designer(s)Adrian Newey (Chief Technical Officer)
Geoff Willis (Technical Director)
Rob Marshall (Chief Designer)
Andrew Green (Head of R&D)
Peter Prodromou (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorRB3
SuccessorRB5
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Aluminium alloy uprights, upper and lower carbon wishbones and pushrods, torsion bar springs and anti roll bars, Multimatic dampers.
Suspension (rear)Aluminium alloy uprights, upper and lower carbon wishbones and pushrods, torsion bar springs and anti roll bars, Multimatic dampers
EngineRenault RS27-2008 2400cc V8, naturally aspirated, mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted, 19,000 RPM Limited
Transmission7-speed hydraulic power-shift
Power>750 hp @ 19,000 rpm[1]
FuelElf
TyresBridgestone Potenza
OZ Racing Front: 12.0 to 12.7in x 13in Wheels
OZ Racing Rear: 13.7in x 13in Wheels
Competition history
Notable entrantsRed Bull Racing
Notable drivers9. United Kingdom David Coulthard
10. Australia Mark Webber
Debut2008 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
180100

The Red Bull RB4 is a Formula One racing car with which the Red Bull Racing team competed in the 2008 Formula One season.

Launch

The RB4 is the team's second Adrian Newey-designed car; this car has had the help of Geoff Willis whom the team had recruited from Honda in 2007. The car included the Renault R27-2008 engine, the second year the Renault engine had powered the Red Bull team.

The car was launched at the Jerez Circuit on 16 January 2008,[2] the same day the RB4 was taken for its first shakedown laps by driver David Coulthard,[3] Mark Webber got his first taste of the RB4 at the Valencia Circuit on 24 January 2008, who described the car as "encouraging" and "a big step forward".[4]

Technical developments

As all teams had to conform to the new set of 2008 regulations, the RB4 had the new standard electronic control unit, produced by McLaren Electronic Systems, that aims to prevent the use of driver aids such as traction control and engine braking.

At the February 1 test at Barcelona, the RB4 sported a radical new fin-shaped engine cover.[5] This was part of the first part of the aerodynamic package changes that most teams would make before the opening round in Australia. Webber drove the RB4 with the "Shark Fin"; Coulthard, however, took out a more normal-shaped RB4.

2008 season

Mark Webber driving the RB4 at the 2008 French Grand Prix.
David Coulthard driving the RB4 at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.

Testing

The RB4 was a contender for "the best of the rest" title in testing for the 2008 season, with both Webber and Coulthard topping the timesheets.[6][7]

However both drivers had a couple of small incidents, with Coulthard "kissing the wall" between turns 7 and 8 at the Circuit de Catalunya on 19 February 2008,[8] and Webber having some minor kerb damage on the monocoque, which could "not be repaired in time to resume testing" on his first day driving the RB4.[9]

Even considering the setbacks and competitive times, the team and both drivers were making sure but steady progress throughout the 2008 testing season, optimising the RB4 to the new rules and regulations. The team was pleased with the car's performance through the testing season before the season opener in Melbourne.[10]

Vettel testing RB4

Toro Rosso driver and future Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel had the opportunity of testing the RB4 at the Barcelona test between 18 and 20 February 2008 as Coulthard had a trapped nerve. Vettel tested the car on the 19th, the middle day of testing.[11]

Vettel completed 109 laps, and came in 7th with a time of 1:22.558, the same day Webber came in 17th with a time of 1:23.458 after doing 58 laps. The top driver that day was Lewis Hamilton, in a McLaren-Mercedes, with a time of 1:21.234 after 81 laps completed.[12]

Livery

At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Coulthard's RB4 was decorated in the colours of "Wings for Life", a charity dedicated to raising awareness of spinal cord injuries. Coulthard said: "I'm dedicating my last race to the vision of making paraplegia curable." Red Bull received approval from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, Formula One's governing body, to run Coulthard's car in different colours than his teammate Webber.[13]

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Points WCC
2008 Red Bull Renault V8 B AUS MAL BHR ESP TUR MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN EUR BEL ITA SIN JPN CHN BRA 29 7th
United Kingdom David Coulthard Ret 9 18 12 9 Ret 3 9 Ret 13 11 17 11 16 7 Ret 10 Ret
Australia Mark Webber Ret 7 7 5 7 4 12 6 10 Ret 9 12 8 8 Ret 8 14 9

References

  1. ↑ "The Cars".
  2. ↑ "Red Bull launches RB4 in Jerez". GPUpdate.net. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  3. ↑ "Red Bull happy with new car shakedown". GPUpdate. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  4. ↑ "Webber happy with first taste of RB4". GPUpdate.net. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  5. ↑ "Red Bull tests revolutionary new engine cover". f1technical.net.
  6. ↑ "Webber fastest on final day". GPUpdate.net. 3 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  7. ↑ "Coulthard tops first day of testing at Jerez". f1technical.net.
  8. ↑ "Minor damage for Coulthard after kissing the wall". f1technical.net.
  9. ↑ "Red Bull hit by new car kerb damage". GPUpdate.net. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  10. ↑ "Red Bull pleased with car pace and reliability". GPUpdate.net. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  11. ↑ "Vettel fills in for injured Coulthard". f1technical.net.
  12. ↑ "Hamilton remains on top". f1technical.net.
  13. ↑ "DC to run charity livery at finale". ITV-F1.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
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