Last update: 24/09

RB19 by the Numbers: Dominance in Statistics

Picture: Lukas Raich

Win Percentage & Season Summary

• The RB19 won 21 out of 22 races in the 2023 season — a win percentage of ~95.45%.
  
• That figure edges past the McLaren MP4/4’s previous record of 15/16 (~93.8 %) from 1988.
• The RB19 also led 86.7% of all laps that season (1,149 of 1,325) — a testament to consistent pace, not just race wins.

Other Performance Metrics

• Poles & podiums: 14 pole positions and 30 out of 42 possible podium finishes for the car and drivers.
• Streaks & records: Verstappen achieved 10 consecutive wins with the RB19, helping the team clinch the drivers’ title with six races still remaining.

The numbers leave little doubt: in raw statistical terms, the RB19 sits at the top when we talk about the most dominant F1 cars throughout history.

Engineering & Design: Why RB19 Dominated

Picture: F1

Evolutionary Approach (from RB18 to RB19)

Rather than reinventing from scratch, Red Bull built the RB19 as a refined evolution of the successful RB18. Many design concepts carried over, but were honed, optimized, and evolved further.

Aerodynamics, Chassis & Suspension Tweaks

• The front axle was moved slightly forward to optimize how the front wing, suspension, and bodywork downstream interacted – a key marginal gain.

• The chassis cross-section was slimmed in the lower half, contributing to improved airflow underneath and better floor performance.

• Suspension elements (upper wishbones, fairings) were refined for both aerodynamic and mechanical stability (e.g. anti-dive effects).

 Reliability, Packaging & Marginal Gains

• Throughout 2023, the RB19 suffered few reliability issues, meaning its dominance wasn’t marred by breakdowns or technical DNFs.

• Red Bull’s engineers also made smart cooling, weight reduction, and packaging improvements, especially for circuits with altitude or high thermal stress, such as the Mexico GP updates.

• The cumulation of many small gains, rather than one big breakthrough, delivered consistent performance across all circuit types.

RB19 vs. the Legends: Is It Truly the Most Dominant?

Picture: Getty Images

Historic Comparisons

• The McLaren MP4/4 (1988) driven by Senna & Prost is the usual benchmark: 15 wins in 16 races, for ~93.8% win rate. RB19 edges that.
• Mercedes W07 (2016) follows with ~19 wins out of 21 (≈ 90.5 %).
• The F2002 Ferrari (2002 season) also often ranks among all-time dominators, though its win percentage falls short of RB19’s.

Challenges to the Claim

• Some argue that because the 2023 season had more races (22) and included more sprint events, RB19 had more opportunities to pad stats, making direct comparisons tricky.
• Additionally, dominance in F1 is not just about wins; pole position ratios, intra-race pace margins, tyre degradation, and fuel management also matter.

Still, when most metrics are considered – wins, laps led, consistency – RB19 stands out as a strong contender for the most dominant F1 car ever.

What Made RB19 Truly Exceptional?

Here’s a quick look at the factors contributing to RB19’s dominance:

• Relentless consistency: very few mechanical failures or off performances
• Circuit adaptability: the car delivered over every type of track—street circuits, high downforce, high speed
• Driver execution: Verstappen and Pérez extracted performance week in, week out
• Incremental engineering: many small gains compounded into a huge advantage

Strategic strength: race strategy, pit stops, tyre management were often flawless

Conclusion