Red Bull scraps fan livery plans due to weight concerns

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Red Bull Racing has been forced to scrap its fan-inspired livery plans for the Singapore and United States Grands Prix due to concerns about the impact of additional weight on the car’s performance.

Earlier this year, Red Bull launched a fan-driven competition inviting supporters to design unique liveries for three races: the British, Singapore, and USA Grands Prix.

The winning designs were set to be featured on the RB20, and the creators were to be given the opportunity to attend the races as VIP guests of the team.

The first ‘REBL CSTMS’ design took center stage at Silverstone, bringing fan creativity to life on the car. However, the team has now had to cancel plans to repeat the concept for the upcoming races.

As Red Bull prepared for this weekend’s round of racing at Marina Bay, it came to light that the new paint scheme, while visually appealing, added roughly 1 kilogram of extra weight to the RB20.

Read also: Red Bull took ‘big hit’ in Baku but is ready to 'attack' - Horner

Though this may sound minor, even the smallest weight increase can have a noticeable effect on performance, especially in the fiercely competitive battle Red Bull faces this season against McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Given the razor-thin margins in the fight for the world championship, the team decided it couldn't afford to take any chances, no matter how small the performance impact might seem.

Red Bull has therefore opted to prioritize performance over fan engagement for the remainder of the season.

In a statement, the team explained the decision: “Unfortunately, when we came to the testing phase of what some REBL CUSTMS designs could look like on the RB20, we found the paint used to create these bespoke full car takeover liveries added unforeseen and undue weight to the bodywork of the RB20.

“As I’m sure you can imagine, any additional weight compromises performance, and the team is continuing to prioritize making this car as competitive as possible for the remainder of the 2024 season.”

The team expressed regret over having to abandon the initiative.

“It is with a heavy heart that we must let you know the team has made the decision to not run the REBL CUSTMS liveries on the RB20 at the Singapore and United States GPs.”

Red Bull's decision underscores the intense focus on marginal gains in Formula 1, where even a small performance compromise can make a significant difference.

While the team’s creative fans will miss out on seeing their designs on the track in Singapore and Austin, the team’s priority remains securing the best possible results in its pursuit of the championship title.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.