Red Bull have given another hint they will not ease up on the development of their 2025 car as Max Verstappen seeks to overhaul the McLaren drivers in the world championship.
Many of Red Bull’s nine rival teams have long ceased work on their current cars in order to prioritise development of their designs for next year, when Formula 1 will introduce radically different technical regulations.
McLaren, who clinched the constructors’ championship in Singapore, have only brought one update to their car over the last six rounds. In contrast last weekend’s round in Austin was the first time Red Bull did not bring new parts for their car in nine rounds.
Following the Singapore Grand Prix Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Verstappen the team have “made a step forward and we know we have more coming”. After Verstappen won both races in Austin last weekend the team’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko made a similar comment.
“We’ve still got something up our sleeve,” he told Austrian broadcast ORF. “I don’t yet know exactly when it will come.”
He also echoed Mekies’ view that the upgrades the team have brought in recent races have given Red Bull a car which can challenge for victories everywhere. “There’s no circuit now where we haven’t been competitive,” said Marko.
Red Bull’s latest upgrade, the steeper front wing it introduced in Singapore, has only been seen on Verstappen’s car so far. His team mate Yuki Tsunoda said in Austin he was eager to try it.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Top four teams’ updates since the Austrian Grand Prix
| Event | McLaren | Red Bull | Ferrari | Mercedes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austrian Grand Prix | Front suspension Front aerodynamic surfaces Rear aerodynamic surfaces |
Floor edge | Floor body, fences and edge Diffuser |
Front brake intake and exit duct Engine cover |
| British Grand Prix | Floor body Rear brake duct inlet |
Front wing Floor body and fences |
||
| Belgian Grand Prix | Rear wing | Front wing Sidepod inlet Engine cover Front suspension Rear wheel bodywork lower cascade |
Rear suspension Rear wing |
Front wing Rear corner |
| Hungarian Grand Prix | Front wing Front brake intake and exit duct |
|||
| Dutch Grand Prix | Front wing | |||
| Italian Grand Prix | Front suspension Front wing Rear wing Beam wing |
Front wing Floor body, fences and edge |
Front wing Rear wing Beam wing |
Rear wing Floor fences and wing |
| Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Inboard wing assembly | Front brake duct exit | Front wing | |
| Singapore Grand Prix | Front wing Engine cover |
Front wing | ||
| United States Grand Prix | Rear suspension top wishbone |
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a daily email with all our latest stories – and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:
Formula 1
- Every team except Sauber to run rookie driver during first practice in Mexico
- “What are you doing to me, guys, honestly?”: Ocon frustrated by Haas’s US GP strategy
- Verstappen has shown McLaren’s drivers how to beat him. But are they ruthless enough?
- Will tyre plan which failed in Austin work this weekend? Five Mexican GP talking points
- Piastri likely to be only title contender to miss first practice at final round