The 2025 Formula 1 season has been far from easy for Red Bull. The team is relying on just one driver to score points, while the RB21 still requires upgrades to address key weaknesses and improve balance. Even Yuki Tsunoda has struggled to find confidence in the car, confirming the need for more technical refinement. However, development will soon slow down, as the team must shift focus to the 2026 Formula 1 project.
At their home Grand Prix, Red Bull introduced modifications focused on the side floor edge area. The updated version features a new opening near the rear tyre, a detail previously absent. While it may appear minor, this change affects a critical part of the ground-effect car’s aerodynamic package.
This section, located between the rear wheels and the diffuser, plays a vital role in managing airflow through the floor tunnels towards the diffuser. The rear tyres, like the front ones, are a major aerodynamic obstruction, which is why the floor also acts to shield airflow that would otherwise directly hit the tyre surface.
Every team aims to stabilise the airflow in this region to manage it more effectively and generate greater aerodynamic load.
A copied solution from the competition
This upgrade isn’t entirely new: a similar outlet in that area of the floor was already introduced by Ferrari in past seasons. While Ferrari might not currently be the fastest car on the grid, it remains a technical benchmark. Over the years, many rivals have adopted design concepts developed in Maranello.
Red Bull’s performance in the opening free practice sessions wasn’t particularly impressive, but the RB21 enters the Austrian GP as a potential threat to McLaren’s dominance. The Red Bull Ring’s layout, especially with its fast corners in sectors two and three, could suit the Milton Keynes-based car.
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