FIA Confirms Red Bull Car Modifications Amid Scorching Conditions at Saudi Grand Prix
As the 2025 Formula 1 season continues, the FIA has officially confirmed that Red Bull Racing has implemented key changes to its car setup ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in response to the extreme weather forecast. The upcoming race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is expected to be heavily influenced by intense heat, with temperatures soaring to the high 30s Celsius during the early evening sessions. While nighttime temperatures will slightly dip, they are still projected to hover around 31 to 32 degrees Celsius throughout the race weekend.
To better cope with the punishing heat, Red Bull has opted to make technical alterations to its car, specifically targeting cooling and aerodynamic efficiency. One of the most notable modifications is the introduction of an enlarged central exit on the engine cover. This change allows the car’s top bodywork to reject more heat, improving engine cooling during long stints in the hot conditions. The cooling solution is aimed at ensuring the power unit maintains optimum performance without risking overheating.
In addition to managing thermal efficiency, Red Bull has also made changes to their aerodynamic components, specifically the beam wing. The beam wing has been redesigned with a reduced chord in order to lower overall downforce. This adaptation helps the car meet the aerodynamic demands of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which features a unique blend of high-speed corners and long flat-out straights. By lowering drag, the team hopes to strike a better balance between straight-line speed and cornering grip—an essential combination for success on this street circuit.
These changes come at a critical moment for Red Bull, who enter the Saudi Grand Prix trailing McLaren by 80 points in the Constructors’ Championship. After a disappointing showing in Bahrain, where reigning World Champion Max Verstappen finished in a lackluster sixth place and teammate Yuki Tsunoda brought home his first points for the team in ninth, the pressure is mounting.
Reports following the Bahrain Grand Prix suggest internal tensions are growing within the team. Crisis talks were allegedly held after the poor result, with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko even warning that Verstappen might consider leaving the team if performance doesn’t improve soon. The speculation around Verstappen’s future only intensified following the comments, but the Dutch driver appeared unfazed during Thursday’s press conference. When questioned by Sky Sports’ David Croft about his potential departure, Verstappen calmly told the veteran broadcaster to focus on his commentating rather than stir up drama about his F1 future.
Despite the swirling rumors, Red Bull remains focused on the task at hand in Jeddah. Team principal Christian Horner expressed cautious optimism heading into the weekend. While he acknowledged that the team had likely identified the root of their recent performance issues, he emphasized that discovering the underlying problem was only part of the battle. Developing a working solution and translating it into on-track improvements will be the real test.
With the race weekend underway, all eyes will be on Red Bull to see whether these latest modifications can help them reclaim their dominance. In what is shaping up to be an intensely competitive 2025 season, a strong showing in Saudi Arabia could be the turning point they desperately need—or signal that deeper issues are holding the once-dominant team back.
