Red Bull confirm staggering 12 changes to new F1 car
The 2025 Australian Grand Prix is just around the corner, and Red Bull Racing has unveiled the extensive revisions made to its RB21 car, boasting an impressive 12 updates compared to its predecessor from last year. This significant overhaul is part of the team’s efforts to stay ahead of the competition, particularly with the major regulatory changes looming in 2026, including a new power unit.
The updates to the RB21 are numerous, with changes made to the front wing, nose, front suspension, floor body, floor fences, floor edge, engine cover, cooling louvres, rear suspension, beam wing, rear wing, and rear-wing endplate. These modifications aim to improve the car’s performance, and while some of these updates may have been seen during pre-season testing, their full impact will only be revealed during the Australian Grand Prix.
Red Bull’s pre-season testing was somewhat disappointing, with the team completing the fewest number of laps and appearing to lag behind McLaren and Ferrari in terms of pace. Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen has already expressed his concerns, stating that he doesn’t feel he has the car to win at Melbourne’s Albert Park on Sunday.
However, Red Bull is not alone in making significant updates to its car. Aston Martin has also introduced 12 updates, while Haas leads the pack with 13 changes to its car. Ferrari, meanwhile, has made a bold decision to switch from a pull rod to a pushrod suspension, which the team claims has “unlocked several development paths.”
McLaren’s changes to its car are more subtle, with modifications made to the front corner and beam wing. Mercedes, on the other hand, has introduced a revised sidepod inlet, floor body, engine cover, beam wing, front suspension, and rear wing.
The other teams have also made various changes to their cars, with Alpine introducing updates to its sidepod inlet, engine cover, floor body, rear corner, rear wing, and rear suspension. Racing Bulls has modified its sidepods, front wings, and front suspension, while Williams has updated its cooling louvres, engine cover, front-wing endplate, and front wing. Sauber has also made changes to its engine cover, front wing, floor body, rear wing, front corner, and rear corner.
As the teams take to the track for the Australian Grand Prix, it will be fascinating to see how these updates impact their performance. With the competition expected to be fierce, every advantage counts, and the team that has made the most effective changes will likely emerge victorious.
