The Race F1 Podcast Tech Show: Explaining Red Bull’s 12-month Monza turnaround
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Sep 11, 2025 Mark Hughes, an F1 journalist known for his technical insights, joins the conversation to dissect Red Bull's impressive rebound at Monza after last year's struggles. He dives into the innovative strategies behind their car development, including aerodynamic adjustments and tire management. The chat also touches on the impact of upcoming regulations in 2026, listener questions about DRS and car weight, and how these elements influence racing dynamics and vehicle performance.
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Aero Map Sweet Spot Beat Raw Downforce
- Red Bull's Monza turnaround came from finding a favourable part of the car's aero map with a bespoke low-drag wing and tuning balance.
- That unlocked front-tyre usage and lap-time despite appearing trickier to drive.
Cutters In The Garage
- Red Bull engineers literally trimmed the rear wing with cutters in the garage to find more speed.
- They then added front wing to regain bite and Verstappen delivered the lap they needed.
Front Load Reduced Graining At A Cost
- Increasing front wing load helped the Red Bull avoid the graining McLaren suffered and improved rotation into chicanes.
- The trade-off was left-front blistering late in the stint, but track position made it manageable.