Formula 1 Italian GP – Full technical update: Major evolutions and circuit-specific tweaks

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-25 front wing, 2025 F1

Italian GP – All Official Updates: Key Developments and Targeted Modifications

The FIA has released the technical and summary documents detailing all the updates brought by the teams to Italy for the sixteenth round of the Formula 1 season.

The Italian Grand Prix traditionally marks a crucial stage in development: with the season well underway and attention starting to shift towards 2026, Monza is likely the stage for the last significant updates of the year.

Monza remains the ultimate test for aerodynamic efficiency: here, reducing drag is more important than generating downforce, and each team has approached the challenge with targeted solutions.

Williams and Haas have opted for minimal updates, making small cuts to the front and rear flaps to reduce drag while maintaining balance. Racing Bulls has gone further, updating the floor, sidepods, and mirrors to optimize airflow to the rear, complementing their new wings with more in-depth modifications.

McLaren has introduced a comprehensive package: reprofiled suspension, new low-drag wings, and a dedicated beam wing, reflecting a methodical and complete approach. Red Bull has focused mainly on the floor—surfaces, bulkheads, and edges—to maximize local downforce extraction, along with a lighter front wing.

Mercedes has worked on detailed changes to the rear wing, front wing, and floor fences, adjusting vortices and airflow distribution to preserve overall balance. Ferrari has reused configurations seen in previous low-drag events: a shortened front flap, a super-light rear wing, and an unloaded beam wing, all aimed at maximizing straight-line speed without destabilizing the car.

Finally, Aston Martin has opted for simplicity, introducing only a less aggressive rear flap to reduce downforce and adapt to Monza’s high-speed nature.

Among the six areas that Formula1.it usually covers before each race weekend are the official updates, the table of power unit components (helpful for predicting potential penalties), TV schedules, Brembo brake analysis, early images and pitlane setups, and Pirelli tire insights.

Here are all the changes introduced to the new cars.

McLaren Formula 1 Team

The McLaren team brings a substantial package to Monza, focused on reducing drag without overly compromising stability. Changes go beyond the wings, including the front suspension to improve airflow. The combination of solutions—new rear wing and beam wing configurations paired with front wing trimming—reflects the need to maximize straight-line speed while maintaining proper balance in corners.

Component	Motivation	Differences	Description
Front Suspension	Performance – Airflow conditioning	Reprofiled front suspension fairings	New profile to improve airflow quality in combination with the low-drag package.
Front Wing	Track-specific – Balance range	Front flap cut	Allows wider balance range, working in conjunction with the low-drag rear wing.
Rear Wing	Track-specific – Drag range	New low-drag rear wing	Completely redesigned assembly to reduce drag and downforce, ideal for high-speed tracks like Monza.
Rear Wing	Track-specific – Drag range	Shortened flap	Further reduction in drag and downforce thanks to a shorter rear flap.
Beam Wing	Track-specific – Drag range	New low-drag beam wing	Paired with the low-drag rear wing to extend the range of drag configurations available.

Ferrari

Ferrari tackles Monza with a low-drag package that partially reuses configurations seen last season. The goal is to optimize top speed while maintaining proper balance: a weakened front flap, lightened rear wing, and unloaded beam wing all aim to reduce aerodynamic resistance while managing overall downforce levels.

Component	Motivation	Differences	Description
Front Wing	Track-specific – Balance range	Shortened front flap	The reduced flap ensures the required aerodynamic balance, aligned with Monza’s optimal downforce levels.
Rear Wing	Performance – Drag reduction	Lightened profiles with adjustable flap	Configuration derived from 2024 low-downforce events, with multiple geometries and trim options to manage drag and downforce.
Beam Wing	Performance – Drag reduction	Single-element lightened beam wing	Previously used option, chosen to reduce overall drag when paired with the unloaded rear wing.

Red Bull

Red Bull focuses on optimizing local downforce, with almost all interventions concentrated on the car floor. The package includes modifications to surfaces, bulkheads, and side profiles to refine pressure distribution and improve downforce extraction while maintaining stable airflow. Additionally, the front wing has been lightened to balance the reduced drag typical at Monza.

Component	Motivation	Differences	Description
Front Wing	Performance – Local downforce	Shortened front flaps	Shortening the 3rd and 4th flap elements adapts the front downforce range to Monza’s low-drag requirements.
Floor Body	Performance – Local downforce	Revised floor surfaces	Redesigned to improve pressure distribution and increase downforce extraction while maintaining stable airflow.
Floor Fences	Performance – Local downforce	Revised bulkhead geometries	Optimized in combination with the new floor to enhance pressure distribution and extract more downforce.
Floor Edge	Performance – Local downforce	Updated floor-edge wing profile	Aligned with floor changes for refined shaping to generate additional local downforce.

Mercedes

Mercedes introduces targeted and refined modifications, focused on detail optimization rather than structural changes. The goal is to adapt to Monza’s low-downforce requirements: small tweaks to the rear and front wings, along with floor fence adjustments, reduce drag and localized downforce without compromising overall balance.

Component	Motivation	Differences	Description
Rear Wing	Performance – Drag reduction	Small wing tip adjustment	Reduced camber and tip setback lower drag and downforce, ideal for Monza’s low-downforce layout.
Floor Fences	Performance – Airflow conditioning	Adjusted camber distribution	Redistributes load and vortices, improving flow toward the floor edge and rear of the car.
Front Wing	Performance – Local downforce	Reduced camber on front flap	Lower camber reduces front downforce, enabling optimal balance with the unloaded rear wing used at Monza.

Aston Martin

Aston Martin adopts a minimalist approach for Monza, introducing only a new option for the rear wing flap. This less aggressive configuration reduces generated downforce and drag, better suited to the high-speed nature of the Monza circuit.

Component	Motivation	Differences	Description
Rear Wing	Track-specific – Drag range	New, less aggressive flap on existing rear wing	The lighter flap reduces drag and downforce, adapting to Monza’s high-speed requirements.

Alpine

No updates

Haas

Haas arrives at Monza with a minimal package, limited to a front wing adjustment. The aim is simple: slightly reduce the flap chord to adapt the car to the circuit’s low-downforce demands while maintaining proper aerodynamic balance. A conservative choice aligned with the team’s resources.

Component	Motivation	Differences	Description
Front Wing	Track-specific – Balance range	Locally shortened front flap chord	The slightly reduced flap chord achieves the desired aerodynamic balance on Monza’s low-drag layout.

Visa Cash App Racing Bulls

The Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team introduces a complex package for Monza, combining drag reduction elements with modifications aimed at improving overall airflow efficiency. Along with adapted wings and mirrors, updates to the floor and sidepods increase local downforce and improve airflow to the rear, crucial for stability and efficiency.

Component	Motivation	Differences	Description
Rear Wing	Track-specific – Drag range	Updated rear wing profiles	Upper flap modified to match Monza’s downforce and drag requirements.
Floor Body	Performance – Local downforce	Updated floor and side wing geometry	Revised to improve the efficiency of generated downforce under the car.
Coke/Engine Cover	Performance – Airflow conditioning	New sidepod shape	Updated bodywork improves airflow quality around the car and toward the rear.
Mirrors	Track-specific – Drag range	New mirror housings	Geometry revised to match efficiency and downforce requirements at Monza.

Williams

Williams arrives at Monza with aerodynamic solutions designed to reduce drag and adjust the car’s balance for the unique characteristics of the circuit. The decision to lighten the wings with small flap cuts demonstrates the aim to maximize top speed while maintaining overall balance.

Component	Motivation	Differences	Description
Rear Wing	Performance – Drag reduction	Optional cut on flap trailing edge	Reduces upper flap surface, decreasing drag and downforce: ideal for Monza.
Front Wing	Track-specific – Balance range	Optional cut on flap trailing edge	Reduces upper flap area to lower drag and downforce, useful to balance low-drag rear wing options. Can be used independently from rear cut.