Red Bull vs Ferrari: the key technical difference highlighted by former Maranello engineer. Luigi Mazzola highlights the crucial technical difference between Red Bull and Ferrari .

Luigi Mazzola has pointed out Red Bull’s dramatic turnaround in Brazil, using it to draw a comparison with Ferrari.

The 2025 Formula 1 season is approaching its conclusion. McLaren has already secured the Constructors’ Championship and is on the verge of claiming the Drivers’ title as well after a dominant year. Further back, the battle for second place remains wide open between Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. Engineer Luigi Mazzola has taken the opportunity to highlight a crucial difference between the latter two teams.

Red Bull lost its status as the clear favourite already halfway through last season. Yet the team continues to show it can be competitive, especially thanks to a Max Verstappen who never stops surprising.

With the Dutchman, the Austrian outfit has taken five victories this year, including three consecutive wins that reopened the championship fight. The most recent races, however, have once again created a gap in the title chase, with Lando Norris now holding a 49-point advantage over Max Verstappen.

Despite this, Red Bull proved in Brazil that it still has the mentality of a champion team. After a completely disastrous Saturday, the team turned the car around, allowing the 1997-born driver to climb from the pit lane to finish in third place.

The situation at Ferrari is different. The team did pull off a similar feat in Austin, but according to Luigi Mazzola, there is a critical point the Scuderia cannot match when compared with Red Bull.

“They tried a new solution at a time when testing time was limited, and they ended up putting their leading driver in difficulty while he was fully fighting for the championship,” said the former Maranello technician, referring to Red Bull’s difficult Saturday in Brazil.

“Personally, with a title fight still open, I wouldn’t have taken such a risk. But they managed to put everything back in place quickly, immediately returning to competitiveness: this shows how deeply they understand their car, to the point that they can afford to take risks and then correct the direction just as quickly.”

The comparison with Ferrari was harsh. “On the other side, you can sense a lower level of understanding of how the car works and how to place it in the ideal window. You can see it especially with Hamilton: a driver of that calibre struggling to express himself suggests difficulties in technical management,” Luigi Mazzola concluded.