Having locked out the front row during qualifying, it would be reasonable to assume to Red Bull would not touch the RB19 before the Bahrain Grand Prix got underway.
This was not the case however, as the FIA have confirmed that between qualifying and the race Red Bull changed the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) oil inlet pipes on both cars.
This was reportedly due to an eagle-eyed spot from the team’s mechanics, who identified a reliability issue with this particular component of the RB19.
Considering Red Bull started the 2022 season with a late double DNF at the Bahrain Grand Prix due to engine failures, taking this extra precaution was certainly a smart idea by the team.
READ: Lewis Hamilton risks penalty after breaking FIA rule in Bahrain
After changing the component, both Red Bull drivers experienced very few issues in the race as Max Verstappen pulled clear from pole position and never looked back.
As reported by RacingNews365, the potential reliability issue with Red Bull’s ICE was spotted by the team during the Friday of pre-season testing and that more than one design solution was trialled.
While Red Bull got their reliability spot on ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, their closest rivals Ferrari did not, as Charles Leclerc’s 2023 got off to the worst possible start with an engine failure in the second half of the race.
Carlos Sainz struggled with tyre degradation in the other Ferrari and saw a podium position slip away from him as Fernando Alonso went on to score Aston Martin’s second podium in Formula 1.
READ: Fernando Alonso warns Ferrari about Aston Martin’s race pace
After a stuttering start to the 2022 season, Red Bull looked scarily reliable and should the energy drink giants continue in similar fashion this year, it will be extremely difficult for any team to beat them.
A stunning one-two finish at the season opener in Bahrain puts Red Bull in the perfect position to build some momentum and charge to their second consecutive constructors’ championship.
With Ferrari and Mercedes faltering, it may unexpectedly be down to Aston Martin to put the pressure of the defending champions this year.