Two Formula 1 teams currently battling for fifth place in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship standings—Aston Martin and Racing Bulls—have decided to debut new aerodynamic components during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The objective is clear: close the current performance gap that separates them from Williams Racing and gain valuable championship points in what has become one of the tightest midfield battles of the season.
Throughout the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, the fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ standings has proven to be incredibly competitive. For this reason, any technical innovation or aerodynamic upgrade that brings even a slight performance gain could significantly alter the balance of power within the midfield group of teams. In such a finely poised contest, even a few tenths of a second can determine whether a team finishes the weekend with points or leaves empty-handed.
Although the technical regulations for the 2026 season have already prompted all teams to shift much of their development focus toward next year’s car, most teams are still working intensively on their current machines. Many have already introduced upgrades or are finalizing their latest developments, aiming not to lose ground in this crucial phase of the championship. Securing a higher position in the standings not only has sporting relevance but also brings substantial financial rewards through increased prize money and improved sponsorship leverage.
During the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, both Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team and Visa Cash App RB (Racing Bulls) will unveil new aerodynamic solutions. These updates are aimed at extracting those vital extra hundredths of a second per lap that could be the difference between overtaking rivals or falling further behind. It is also worth noting that most teams are approaching the final stage of in-season development: very soon, technical upgrades for the 2025 Formula 1 cars will be frozen, and teams will need to maximize the performance of their current packages all the way through to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
In recent weeks, Sauber has set an example for the rest of the grid. The Swiss-based team, headquartered in Hinwil, introduced significant upgrades four races ago—including redesigned sidepods and a new floor—which completely transformed the competitiveness of their car. As a result, Nico Hülkenberg managed to achieve a sensational podium finish at the British Grand Prix, further demonstrating the importance of timely and effective updates.
Alan Permane, newly appointed Team Principal of Racing Bulls, confirmed to Motorsport.com that the Faenza-based squad will be bringing fresh aerodynamic parts to Spa. “We have a couple of new pieces for Spa, a couple of aero updates,” Permane explained. “There’s more coming after the summer break, but we’ve already started to shift most of our attention towards 2026.”
However, it’s not just Racing Bulls that will bring updates to the Belgian round. Aston Martin has also revealed plans for a significant development push. Andy Cowell, who serves as the Managing Director of Aston Martin Performance Technologies, confirmed in an interview with SiriusXM that the team has further upgrades ready to be deployed. “Gathering data on the aero package was difficult [at Silverstone] due to the changing and rainy weather conditions,” Cowell admitted. “But we’ll regroup at the factory and analyze in detail what we learned about the floor and the small changes made to the upper bodywork.”
Cowell went on to reveal that another major component is scheduled to debut at Spa-Francorchamps. “We have another important part coming for Spa, and we will also decide what to do for the remainder of the season,” he said. “We won’t be allocating further major aerodynamic resources to the 2025 project, but if there are elements we can identify and improve to refine our tools, doing it now will benefit us heading into 2026 and beyond.”
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