Yesterday, Red Bull hit the track for the first time with its new F1 car, a preview of the crucial three-day test once again taking place in Bahrain. The competitive scenario is not ideal. Yes, the temperatures are much milder compared to Barcelona, but the layout is not as suitable or complete as the Catalan circuit. Moreover, there is always strong wind and sand covering the track. This is precisely why the FIA is considering a return to Montmeló next year. Setting this aside, let’s talk about the RB21.
The latest engineering creation from the Milton Keynes team has not stunned with its design, though images are still scarce, and it would be wise to wait for further details. It certainly does not “catch the eye” like the 2024 car, which puzzled everyone with its peculiar sidepod shape and barely visible air intakes. That car, in the end, was a major disappointment, as we know well. It still allowed Verstappen to win the drivers’ championship, but much of the credit goes to the Dutchman’s immense talent in extracting performance from the car.
The same applies to Red Bull’s rivals, Ferrari and McLaren, who, for different reasons, failed to maximize their potential. In the constructors’ championship, however, there was no saving Red Bull, which finished only third. Pierre Wache inherited the technical leadership from Adrian Newey and, at least last season, was unable to fully capitalize on it. This is why there was so much curiosity about the RB21—the first Red Bull car not conceived under the direct guidance of the brilliant British designer. While we wait for more revealing images, here is a preliminary analysis.
F1, Red Bull RB21: A Change in Sidepod Philosophy
As frequently mentioned in recent weeks, Verstappen’s weapon for 2025 is an evolution of last season’s car. The RB21 hit the track for the first time yesterday afternoon, following the release of renders that were quite misleading—another classic Red Bull move to conceal its real design. With Adrian Newey absent, expectations were for a car with less extreme or radical solutions, without taking anything away from the current technical staff working on the new machine.
Nonetheless, there are already some interesting elements. Looking at the front of the car, we can see that the last flap of the front wing has changed significantly. In essence, Red Bull has completely redistributed the front load. This is a move also adopted by other teams, such as Aston Martin, which introduced a revised front load concept on the AMR25. There is also a slight difference in how the “nose” is attached, as the section at the end of the nosecone has been slightly narrowed in volume.
These may seem like small adjustments, but if well integrated into the aerodynamic structure of the blue racing car, they could provide significant gains in terms of aerodynamic efficiency. The front suspension remains unchanged. Upon close inspection, there are no noticeable changes in the characteristic angle. Despite the issues suffered during last season, this confirms that Red Bull has once again relied on its pull-rod suspension design, maintaining the same level of anti-dive characteristics.
F1, Red Bull RB21: Suspension and Internal Component Changes
In the central section, the team has maintained the same basic philosophy, though several modifications have been made, which are currently difficult to pinpoint. Firstly, there is a general reduction in the volume of the sidepods. Additionally, their shape has changed. By examining the green lines, we can highlight the surface composition of this area. The RB20 had a more compact, flat section, while the RB21’s surface is entirely three-dimensional. The green arrow highlights a localized lowering of the sidepods.
This comparison also reveals further updates to the floor’s design. Last year, it was relatively linear, whereas for the 2025 season, the engineering team, led by the French technical director, opted for a different approach that deviates from the previous concept. The purple arrow indicates the key change in this area. The likely objective here is to create varying pressure gradients to direct airflow in a specific manner, helping manage airflow toward the rear of the car.
Finally, we arrive at the rear section of the RB21, where Red Bull has invested considerable time and effort in both design and simulation. The goal was to achieve a perfect balance between aerodynamics and mechanics, maximizing efficiency. The red-highlighted upper triangle shows that the push-rod suspension arm has been raised by a few millimeters to create more space for airflow. Additionally, internal suspension components have been modified to further enhance rear-end efficiency.
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