Red Bull’s lesson: investing in 2025 to improve the 2026 car
Learning from the current car for the future
How many times have we seen teams prematurely halt development on the current car to focus on the next, especially ahead of a major regulation change like that expected in 2026? Red Bull is not doing that. The team continues to introduce upgrades despite the ground-effect era approaching its end. Returning to the fight for the Drivers’ Championship is an objective, but even more crucial is updating simulation models to ensure that future Red Bulls do not inherit the RB21’s problems.
Method over form
“We took some risks to understand as much as possible about what limited the project this year,” commented Laurent Mekies after the Monza win, referring to the experiments conducted over the summer, particularly during the Budapest weekend. By doing so, the team gained a better understanding of the RB21, applying insights to optimize setups and develop aerodynamics, with updates introduced even at the Singapore GP. Naturally, this focus diverted some resources from the 2026 car, but it is an investment in the future. “It’s important to complete the picture, because we will develop next year’s car using the same tools and methodology, even if the regulations are completely different,” said the Team Principal at Marina Bay, as reported by The Race.
Competitiveness depends on knowledge
Red Bull’s approach shows that F1 competitiveness is not just about shapes and aerodynamic surfaces, but about the knowledge and techniques used to develop them. It would be a mistake to think a car loses solely because its floor, wings, or suspension are wrong, and thus not worth attention ahead of new regulations. The car reflects decisions made upstream, prioritizing what truly matters for performance. Understanding what really counts requires deep knowledge of the physics in play and what happens when the car is in motion, which is why studying the current car provides valuable insights for the future.
The toughest challenge
Mercedes technical director James Allison highlighted this in January 2024, explaining the concept of a Formula 1 car: “It’s the process by which you decide what is beneficial and what is not. It’s the method to filter countless solutions you could put on the car and find only those that genuinely improve lap times. It’s a methodology; the car itself is merely the result.”
Design today occurs primarily in a virtual environment, where ideas are tested through computer simulations. In any branch of engineering, the toughest challenge is building a virtual model that accurately replicates the behavior of the real object — in this case, the car. This requires deep understanding of the physics involved, modeling them accurately, and continuously updating the mathematical laws that describe them.
Mercedes as an example
The Mercedes case is emblematic. Between 2023 and 2024, the team adjusted CFD meshes, changing how aerodynamic simulations were set up to emphasize phenomena that had been overlooked, which distorted the understanding of what truly affected performance. The 2022 regulations exposed how inadequate models were in describing ground-effect physics, including phenomena like porpoising. While some of these issues will lose relevance under 2026 rules, aspects like balance and drivability still provide critical expertise to refine methodologies for the next year’s project.
McLaren’s lesson
Developing a winning car is closely tied to accurate simulation techniques that match on-track performance. McLaren is a prime example, having invested heavily to build internal expertise. Andrea Stella explained the success of the team: “It’s the result of work on the fundamentals, not just generating ideas or thinking about the geometry of a floor or wing. It’s understanding the methodology behind development — not just innovation, but confidence that what you see in CFD or wind tunnel will translate to something effective on track.”
This concept extends beyond aerodynamics. Understanding tire behavior is another research area that transcends regulations, as does vehicle dynamics. The more complete the understanding of what happens around the car, the better the on-track performance, since virtual simulations inform setup decisions. Overall, skipping some upgrades in the current season is prudent, saving resources and wind tunnel hours for the next project. Red Bull, however, shows the value of continuing work on the current car, as it provides critical insight into the causes of problems. Future success always starts with the present, not the next year.
Leave a Reply