Racing Bulls has introduced another aerodynamic refinement to its revised VCARB 03 airbox package at the Hungarian Grand Prix, adding two small airflow deflectors to the upper section of the engine cover. The Faenza-based team has also brought the cooling-system specification that Arvid Lindblad debuted at Spa-Francorchamps to Liam Lawson’s car, placing both drivers on equal technical footing in Budapest.
The development builds on the substantial change first seen in Belgium, where the team replaced its previous trapezoidal airbox with a noticeably smaller, more square-shaped intake. Racing Bulls only had enough components to equip one car at Spa, meaning British rookie Arvid Lindblad received the updated configuration while Liam Lawson continued with the older design.
Racing Bulls VCARB 03 airbox upgrade reaches Liam Lawson
That difference has now been removed for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Racing Bulls has prepared a second version of the revised cooling installation, allowing Liam Lawson to use the same smaller airbox and engine-cover arrangement as Arvid Lindblad.
The modification is not limited to simply copying the Spa specification onto the second car. Because the Hungaroring demands maximum aerodynamic load, the technical group led by Tim Goss and Dan Fallows has already adapted the package to the requirements of the Budapest circuit.
Two lateral profiles have consequently appeared on the upper part of the engine cover. These small elements act as airflow deflectors, helping to manage the air travelling over the central and rear sections of the car before it reaches the rear wing.
How the smaller airbox can improve rear-wing efficiency
The smaller airbox reduces the frontal area around the roll-hoop region. In aerodynamic terms, presenting a more compact surface to the airflow can reduce the disturbance created at the top of the car and give the aerodynamicists greater freedom to manage the flow travelling towards the rear.
The reduced cross-section has allowed Racing Bulls to improve the efficiency of the rear wing. The two new deflectors introduced in Hungary contribute to that objective by guiding the airflow towards the wing more effectively.
This is particularly relevant at the Hungaroring, where teams normally run high-downforce configurations. The circuit places less emphasis on outright straight-line speed than Spa-Francorchamps and requires the cars to generate strong aerodynamic load through its long sequence of corners.
The new profiles therefore represent a circuit-specific evolution of a broader cooling and bodywork package. Racing Bulls has retained the smaller air intake first tested in Belgium while modifying the surrounding surfaces to suit a track where rear-wing performance carries greater importance.
Arvid Lindblad debuted the revised cooling package at Spa
Arvid Lindblad was the first Racing Bulls driver to race with the revised layout because only one complete set of components was ready for the Belgian Grand Prix. Liam Lawson’s VCARB 03 still featured the larger trapezoidal airbox at Spa, creating a visible technical difference between the two cars.
With the second package now completed, both drivers can begin the Hungarian weekend with the same fundamental specification. That should give the team more comparable data from the two cars while preventing one driver from being limited to the previous cooling and aerodynamic arrangement.
The decision also reflects Racing Bulls’ confidence in the solution after its initial appearance at Spa. Rather than treating the smaller intake as a one-car experiment, the Faenza operation has expanded its use immediately and added another aerodynamic detail for the following event.
Racing Bulls targets fifth place after drawing level with Alpine
The technical push arrives during an encouraging period for Racing Bulls. The team has moved level with Alpine on 61 points in the battle for fifth place in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.
Racing Bulls now intends to continue that positive momentum and consolidate its unexpected position at the front of the midfield. In effect, the team is aiming to establish itself as the strongest operation outside Formula 1’s recognised leading group.
That ambition is supported by a driver line-up that has contributed strongly during the opening part of the season. Arvid Lindblad has also emerged as one of the notable young prospects within the wider Red Bull structure, which currently features several drivers capable of shaping its future.
The Hungarian upgrade demonstrates that Racing Bulls is not relying solely on its existing level of performance. The team is continuing to refine the VCARB 03, with the smaller airbox reducing the frontal area around the roll hoop and the two additional flow deflectors helping direct air towards the rear wing.
Whether those relatively compact changes produce a measurable competitive gain will become clearer during the Budapest weekend. However, the decision to equip both Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad with the revised cooling package confirms that Racing Bulls sees the solution as an important part of the VCARB 03’s continuing development.
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