After an inconsistent season, Racing Bulls finished the Constructors’ Championship in sixth place. However, 2025 already began last season with an important technical evolution: from Las Vegas, the team adopted the rear suspension and gearbox from the RB20 for the final three races. An additional preview of the 2025 updates came in Abu Dhabi, where the team tested a new front wing, heavily revised.
In addition to inheriting the suspension, gearbox, and sidepods from the RB20, Racing Bulls will also adopt the characteristic inverted “L”-shaped air intake. Introduced by Red Bull in 2024, this technical solution has set a trend in the paddock, with many teams replicating its design.
However, the VCARB02 will not be a simple copy of the RB20. The team has chosen to differentiate itself on some aerodynamic solutions, such as abandoning the so-called “bazooka” side ducts on the engine cover, a solution that Red Bull itself abandoned in the final phase of the season. This choice may be linked to the need to improve cooling and achieve greater aerodynamic efficiency.
Does the collaboration with Red Bull scare rivals?
Racing Bulls is also strengthening its technical collaboration with Red Bull. The Team Principal, Laurent Mekies, confirmed that the parent team has asked Racing Bulls to make the most of all the cooperation opportunities allowed by the regulations.
This strategy has sparked controversy, particularly from McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, who emphasized the importance of independence for all Formula 1 teams. In response, Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer defended the team:
“I know for sure that the relationship between Ferrari and Haas is even closer than that between Red Bull Racing and us,” said Bayer. “I understand that Formula 1 is a tough competition and every team tries to put pressure on its rivals. But if you listen carefully to our drivers and engineers, you’ll quickly understand that our car is a standalone project. It’s not a simple copy. If it were, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Racing Bulls will officially present the VCARB02 on February 17 in Imola, where the drivers will have the opportunity to conduct the first tests of the new car. The main goal, now more than ever due to the link with Red Bull, is to achieve concrete results in the final season before the regulatory change.
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