Red Bull chasing persistent aero flaw as rivals pull ahead

While McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have all added significant performance to their cars with respective upgrades this season, Red Bull are still trying to correct a basic problem with the RB22.

The issue refers to Max Verstappen’s comments about how the car suffers an aerodynamic degradation of performance after a certain number of laps. The drop-off has undermined race pace and tyre management in recent events, even as the team continues to bring new parts.

Mekies: not a simple fix

Team boss Laurent Mekies confirmed in Madrid that correcting the degradation is not going to be a simple fix. He acknowledged the problem is fundamental to the RB22’s aerodynamic platform and requires careful development rather than a quick band-aid.

Despite the admission, the team has been active with the FIA. Car update submissions made to the governing body at both Monza and Madrid suggest where attention is being focused, with changes aimed at stabilising aero performance over a stint.

The contrast with rivals is stark. McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have all unlocked measurable gains from their latest packages, while Red Bull’s work remains centred on addressing the core degradation trait first identified by Verstappen.