Racing Bulls is aiming for a comeback. Last summer’s development issues proved constructive in gaining a better understanding of ground effect, allowing the team to transfer the acquired knowledge to the 2025 car. The VCARB-02 aims to improve drivability and expand its operational window, focusing particularly on addressing weaknesses in medium-to-high-speed corners without compromising competitiveness in slower sections. To achieve this, the Faenza team is updating some components purchased from its parent company, Red Bull, starting with the suspension.
New Mechanics
Over the past two years, Racing Bulls has strengthened its collaboration with Red Bull, purchasing all the transferable parts permitted by the regulations, including the suspension. At the front, Racing Bulls continues with the pull-rod setup, already used last season in the 2023 Red Bull specification. From the first images of the VCARB-02, some details suggest an update to the RB20’s latest suspension design, though not enough to confirm without official statements from the team.
What is confirmed, however, is the adoption of Red Bull’s 2024 rear suspension, already introduced at the last Las Vegas Grand Prix. The design remains push-rod but features modifications to both the internal mechanics and the external arms, striking the usual compromise between aerodynamic influence and suspension kinematics. Notably, the upper wishbone is now entirely positioned behind the rod, while the orientation of the forward-most lower element has also changed.
New Bodywork
The most noticeable changes involve the side radiator inlets, where the new Racing Bulls takes strong inspiration from Max Verstappen’s title-winning Red Bull. The horizontal intakes are significantly wider and flatter, with a size reduction offset by a new vertical opening close to the chassis, which draws in lower-energy air that is less useful for external aerodynamics. From a three-quarter view, the VCARB-02 adopts another RB20 feature by extending the upper lip of the air intake forward instead of the lower one. This geometry provides a better balance between increasing pressure along the cockpit sides—helpful in diverting turbulence outward—and directing airflow under the sidepods, benefiting the car’s underfloor aerodynamics. In this regard, the bodywork follows a different contour than in 2024 while maintaining the traditional downward-sloping sidepod concept.
However, Racing Bulls rejects some of Red Bull’s latest solutions, such as the block cooling system. Max Verstappen’s RB20 featured four additional cooling openings near the halo mounts, but the Faenza team, like others, did not find this philosophy equally effective. Besides the intakes next to the cockpit, the only other VCARB-02 air inlets are concentrated in the air scoop above the driver’s head, which has been slightly reshaped compared to 2024 with a more squared-off design.
Aerodynamic Work
The most crucial component of ground-effect cars remains the floor, though modifications to its underside remain hidden from view. However, the evolution of the outer edge is visible, featuring an extended central raised section and the addition of a fifth vortex generator. The impression is that Racing Bulls has enhanced the extraction of airflow along the floor’s sides, also taking advantage of the new sidepod geometry, which increases the volume of air flowing along the lower bodywork.
The front wing is an evolution of the late-2024 specification, with refinements to both the wing profiles and the nose. The same applies to the rear wing, pending the unveiling of high- and low-downforce versions. No surprises in the engine cover, which is slightly more bulbous, while near the cockpit, the double fairing for the rearview mirrors stands out—designed to reduce drag and generate additional vortices to energize downstream airflow.
Target: Consistency
Overall, the VCARB-02 is a clear evolution of its predecessor. The most visible changes are in the sidepods, but the most significant work has focused on the floor. The continuity with the 2024 car provides valuable reference points for addressing the aerodynamic instability issues encountered last season. The stated goal is to ensure more consistent performance across a broader range of conditions, a common objective for many teams dealing with the complexities of ground-effect cars.
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