The RB5 was designed under the framework of significant regulatory changes introduced for the 2009 season. These changes mandated narrower and higher rear wings, alongside wider and lower front wings, with the intention of reducing aerodynamic disturbance to trailing cars and facilitating overtaking. The reintroduction of slick tyres, absent since 1998, was also anticipated to increase tyre grip by approximately 20%. Adrian Newey was the lead designer of the RB5, and in July 2010, he was gifted a complete RB5 car by Red Bull as recognition for his work in elevating the team to a competitive level.
The RB5’s design considered the potential implementation of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). New rules allowed for the recovery and reuse of energy generated during braking, accessible to the driver via a boost button on the steering wheel. Red Bull initially pursued independent KERS development, but a factory fire caused by overheating batteries halted their progress. They subsequently agreed to utilize an identical KERS system to Renault, leveraging their existing engine supply agreement. Ultimately, the RB5 did not race with KERS fitted. The car initially featured a narrow, pointed nose, a common design choice in 2009, but this was replaced with a flatter, wider nose at the British Grand Prix. This revised nose design was retained for the remainder of the V8 engine formula era.
The RB5’s launch was deliberately delayed to allow for extended development time, accepting a reduction in pre-season testing. Red Bull anticipated an improvement in performance compared to the RB4, which had only achieved a single podium finish in 2008. Before the season began, Sebastian Vettel expressed cautious optimism, stating: “Obviously it's not correct sitting here and say I am going to win the world championship. I want to, but we need to see. We need to see how we are going, where we are in comparison to the others. I believe that the new rules could give a chance to teams like us to close the gap to the front but the favourites are Ferrari and McLaren, no doubt.”
Initial testing at Jerez revealed high gearbox oil temperatures, which were subsequently resolved. Following the fix, the RB5 proved to be the fastest 2009-specification car at the circuit, outpacing competitors from Williams, McLaren, and Renault. Mark Webber returned to testing after recovering from a broken leg sustained while cycling, completing a race distance without issue and even lapping faster than Vettel on a subsequent day.
During the 2009 season, the RB5 demonstrated strong performance, achieving its first victory at the Chinese Grand Prix with Vettel winning and Webber finishing second, marking the team's first 1–2 finish. As the season progressed, the car’s pace increased, eventually surpassing the Brawn BGP 001 as the fastest car on the grid. Throughout the season, the RB5 secured a total of 6 race wins – four for Vettel and two for Webber. Vettel playfully named his RB5 chassis 'Kate', and after a crash in Melbourne, he dubbed his replacement chassis 'Kate's Dirty Sister'.
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