Tech Show: Assessing Red Bull's recent upgrade and the reason for Cadillac's brake 'cooking'
About this episode
Former F1 technical director Gary Anderson joins Ed Straw to dissect Red Bull’s transformative aerodynamic upgrade package and its impact on airflow and diffuser performance. The duo explores the mechanics of DRS reattachment following Max Verstappen's qualifying mishap, previews the unique energy harvesting challenges of Silverstone, and investigates Cadillac's brake overheating issues. Featuring insights from F1 test driver Zhou Guanyu, this technical deep dive also answers listener questions regarding power unit limits, gear ratios, and straight-line deployment modes.
On the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson take a close look at the upgrade package introduced by Red Bull in Austria, and try to diagnose the reason behind Cadillac's race-wrecking brake issues.
We also hear from Cadillac's reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, who tells Edd all about his recent outing testing tyres for Pirelli and provides an update on the team's 2026 progress and developments behind the scenes.
And finally, Gary tackles questions from listeners on what elements constitute a power unit and whether McLaren have an underlying gear ratio issue.
If you'd like to ask Gary a tech question, send it to [email protected].
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Gary Anderson
"Welcome to the race F1 tech show, I'm Ed Straw and of course the main man is with me, Gary Anderson, former F1 technical director with half a century experience in and around Formula 1..."
A highly experienced former designer and engineer of Formula 1 cars who now explains how the cars work to fans.
Former Formula 1 technical director who worked with teams like Jordan, Stewart, and Jaguar. He is a prominent technical analyst and co-host of the F1 Tech Show.
Silverstone
"Gary, we've got Silverstone coming up. It's not a huge distance away from where you live either. No, it's 20 minutes up the road really, but yeah, it's a good race."
A very famous and fast race track in England where the British Grand Prix is held.
A historic motor racing circuit in Northamptonshire, England, home to the British Grand Prix. It is famous for its high-speed corners like Copse, Maggots, and Becketts, which heavily test aerodynamic performance.
energy harvesting
"It'll be an area where I think you could do quite a bit of harvesting through there because you are slowing as you go through it."
How a modern hybrid race car captures energy that would normally be wasted when slowing down, saving it in a battery to use for extra speed later.
The process by which Formula 1 hybrid power units recover kinetic energy under braking (via the MGU-K) and heat energy from exhaust gases (via the MGU-H) to store in the battery.
energy deployment
"We haven't really pinpointed a great harvesting or deployment strategy difference from other cars."
Using the electricity saved in the car's battery to give the engine a big power boost, making the car go faster.
The release of stored electrical energy from the hybrid battery pack to the electric motor (MGU-K) to provide additional horsepower, typically used on straights and out of corners.
Max Verstappen
"Max Verstappen was certainly quite disparaging about the energy regime though. He said he was basically laughing when he drove it in the simulator."
One of the fastest and most successful modern Formula 1 drivers, who drives for the Red Bull team.
Dutch Formula 1 driver and multiple-time World Champion driving for Red Bull Racing, known for his aggressive style and exceptional car control.
Red Bull Upgrades Analysis
"Talking Max Verstappen, should we talk about the Red Bull Upgrades, a major upgrade package that allowed Max Verstappen to challenge for victory in the Austrian Grand Prix?"
A segment explaining the new parts Red Bull put on their car to make it faster.
Discussion of Red Bull's major aerodynamic upgrade package introduced for the Austrian Grand Prix, focusing on sidepod and floor changes.
sidepod
"Now, we don't know all the reasons, obviously there was side pod changes, let's say, as one of the biggest things, the shape of the side pod and how they were changing the airflow..."
The sculpted body panels on the sides of a race car that channel air to cool the engine and help the car stick to the track.
The bodywork structures on either side of a Formula 1 car's cockpit that house the radiators for engine cooling and play a critical role in managing aerodynamic airflow to the rear of the car.
aerodynamic undercut
"...as opposed to letting the airflow comes in between the front wheels and the chassis slide go through there and into the undercut and the side pod..."
A carved-out channel under the side of the car's bodywork that guides rushing air toward the back to help the car grip better.
The sculpted, recessed area beneath the sidepod inlets of a Formula 1 car designed to channel clean airflow tightly along the floor towards the rear diffuser.
diffuser
"So basically they were allowing that airflow to get through the car and come out the back end of the car helping the diffuser."
A specially shaped panel at the very back bottom of the car that helps pull air out from underneath, sucking the car down onto the road for better grip.
The shaped section at the rear of a car's underbody that accelerates airflow underneath the vehicle, creating a low-pressure area that generates significant downforce.
Coke bottle effect
"And then that means that your cook bottle has to get flow from somewhere, so the undercut on the top of the side pod..."
Shaping the back of the car like an hourglass or a classic soda bottle to help air flow more smoothly and quickly over the rear wheels.
An aerodynamic design concept where the rear bodywork of a racing car narrows inward, resembling a classic Coke bottle, to maximize airflow speed over the top of the diffuser.
rear wing
"...and that looked like it was something to do with the rear wing not closing quickly enough, or not reattaching quickly enough..."
The big wing on the back of the car that pushes the rear tires down onto the track so the car doesn't spin out in fast corners.
The large aerodynamic wing mounted at the back of a racing car designed to generate downforce on the rear axle, increasing cornering grip at the expense of drag.
front wing
"Yeah, I mean it's always difficult to get airflow to reattach, I mean the two objectives of the rear wing are front wing and rear wing to be honest..."
The wing on the nose of the car that pushes the front tires down for steering grip and guides air around the rest of the car.
The wing mounted at the very front of a racing car, responsible for generating front-axle downforce and directing airflow around the front tires and under the floor.
hysteresis
"when you shut the wing as you say the re-engagement of the air flow or the reattachment of the air flow is not really instantaneous, it's like hysteresis..."
The short delay or lag time it takes for air to start flowing smoothly over a wing again after it has been opened and closed.
In aerodynamics, the lag or delay in airflow reattachment after a wing transitions from an open (low drag) to a closed (high downforce) state.
slot gap
"...just allow more air flow through the slot gap to get the reattachment before you actually get it shut that last little bit to make it work harder..."
The small space between the different parts of a wing that lets a little bit of air slip through to keep the airflow smooth and sticky.
The precise physical gap between the main plane and the flap of a multi-element wing, critical for managing boundary layer airflow and preventing aerodynamic stall.
Cadillac Brake Cooling Issues
"Jumping from the second quickest car probably overall in Austria to the second slowest, the Cadillac, very very striking brake cooking, I was going to say break over heating but it's just brake cooking problems..."
A segment discussing why the Cadillac team's brakes caught fire and forced them out of the race.
Analysis of the severe brake overheating problems that forced both Cadillac cars to retire early from the Austrian Grand Prix.
brake duct
"I see how they work these cars now the brake dock itself is a very complicated piece of kit it's mainly got more more complicated because of this effect it has on tires..."
Air scoops behind the wheels that blow cool air onto the hot brakes to keep them from overheating.
Channels or scoops near the wheels that direct cool air over the brake calipers and discs to manage temperatures, while also serving as crucial aerodynamic control devices.
brake caliper
"...and during that period some of that air will go to cool the caliper some of it will go up through the the cooling holes in the in the disc..."
The metal clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the wheel's spinning disc to slow the car down.
The hydraulic housing that clamps the brake pads against the spinning brake disc to slow the car down.
Zhou Guanyu
"Joe recently drove the 2026 Cadillac for the first time in a post Barcelona Grand Prix tire test."
The first full-time Chinese driver in Formula 1 history, who now helps teams test and develop their high-tech racing cars.
Chinese Formula 1 driver who competed for Alfa Romeo/Sauber and later transitioned to a reserve and test driver role, including testing duties for Cadillac's F1 program.
2026 Cadillac F1 Car
"Joe recently drove the 2026 Cadillac for the first time in a post Barcelona Grand Prix tire test..."
A specialized racing car built by Cadillac to compete in the world's fastest racing series, Formula 1, starting in the 2026 season.
Cadillac's entry into Formula 1 for the 2026 season, featuring a brand-new power unit and chassis package built in partnership with General Motors. The car represents Cadillac's push into top-tier global motorsport to showcase its engineering capabilities.
snap oversteer
"...with the lighter car with the car the visibility is better how to control the snap oversteer is better..."
When the back end of the car suddenly and violently slides sideways without warning.
A sudden, rapid loss of rear-wheel traction that causes the back of the car to slide out unexpectedly, often requiring quick driver reflexes to correct.
plenum
"...but from behind that part where the plenum starts through to the rear driveline..."
A metal chamber that holds air before it gets sucked into the engine's cylinders, helping the engine breathe smoothly.
The pressurized chamber in an engine's intake system that collects and distributes air evenly to the individual cylinders.
driveshaft
"...you can get the the engine the cooling package for it the plenum turbo the the rear the driveshaft the gearbox..."
The spinning metal rod that carries power from the gearbox to the wheels to make them turn.
The rotating shaft that transmits mechanical torque from the gearbox to the wheels, allowing the car to move.
Tesla 3D Model
"... um models now not a package of drones it'll be a 3d model of all the stuff but the regulations themselves o..."
cost cap
"...and of course obviously there's certain questions when it comes to the cost cap and the cost of power unit supplies..."
A strict spending limit that F1 teams must follow so that rich teams can't just buy their way to winning.
The financial regulations in Formula 1 that limit the amount of money a team can spend on car performance and development over a calendar year to level the playing field.
straight line mode
"a question from Steve and James Ward for straight line mode is there a rule which means that the front and rear wing must open and close simultaneously..."
A setting where the car's wings flatten out on straightaways to cut through the air easier and reach higher top speeds.
An active aerodynamic configuration where the front and rear wings adjust to minimize drag on straightaways, maximizing top speed before returning to high-downforce mode for cornering.
gear ratios
"and the final question comes from P Schneider we know that the McLaren gear ratios are a little shorter than that of Mercedes what drives decisions on gear ratios..."
The settings of the gears in the car's transmission that decide how fast the engine spins at any given speed.
The relationship between the rotational speed of the engine and the wheels, determined by the size of the gears in the transmission. In F1, these are fixed for the season.
Andreas Seidl
"...I asked Andreas tell her about this a few races ago and he said they're comfortable they've got they don't intend to..."
A prominent team boss in Formula 1 who has managed major teams like McLaren and Sauber.
Experienced German motorsport engineer and manager who has served as team principal for McLaren F1 and CEO of Sauber/Audi's F1 project.
active aerodynamics
"...it's all down to I suppose really what they've got with with where you can use the active arrow the the straight line mode..."
Wings and body parts on a car that can move automatically while driving to help the car go faster on straights and grip better in corners.
Systems that dynamically alter the shape or angle of aerodynamic surfaces (like wings) while the car is moving to optimize downforce or drag based on speed and cornering.
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