ANALYSIS: Exploring the updated Red Bull RB18 that broke cover on the final day of testing in Bahrain

Red Bull fitted a bodywork update for the final day of Bahrain’s Official Pre-Season Test, with the revised RB18 breaking cover on Saturday morning.

The most visually obvious change is a significantly reshaped sidepod. The contouring around the radiator inlet is tighter, to give a bigger undercut there (as can be seen from how the ‘E’ of Oracle on the right-hand side now sweeps partly beneath the lateral plane).

LIVE COVERAGE: Day 3 of Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain

This will further enhance how hard the air is being accelerated along the body sides, and thereby the energy that flow will retain as it exits at the rear between the rear wheel and over the venturi tunnel exit. This draws the underfloor air through those venturis yet harder.

ANALYSIS: A first look at Mercedes' astonishing new update for the Official Pre-Season Test

Although we haven’t yet seen the detail at the leading edge of the floor of the updated car, we can assume that the treatment of the vanes will be slightly different to better meet the new contouring behind.

Helping further energise the flow through the venturis is a new outer floor, with a very distinctive and accentuated vortex generator.

This will trip the air making its way along the upper floor into a vortex of spinning air, which will curl its way into the underfloor and speed up the flow there, by pulling the air ahead of it through faster. The faster the air flows through those tunnels, the more downforce is created.

READ MORE: Mercedes will be ‘huge factor’ in 2022 predicts Horner, as he reacts to rivals’ radical W13

Sergio Perez, on his first flying lap with the new car, put it straight to the top of the timesheets, a couple of tenths ahead of Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari.

Was that a statement of intent from Red Bull, as Mercedes apparently struggle to hone their car with their dramatic ‘stealth’ sidepods? This development race is already fascinating – and we haven’t even had the first race yet.

F1 TV Pro subscribers can watch Bahrain pre-season testing live and on demand, access exclusive live timing, as well as Tech Talk debriefs. Subscribe now and save 20% on your Annual F1 TV Pro subscription. Offer Valid in selected territories on web and apps until March 13. T&Cs apply

Coverage of the Official Pre-Season Test is also available live in selected territories via your F1 broadcaster.