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November 14, 2025
Max Verstappen has been handed a comprehensive Red Bull upgrade package for Formula 1‘s 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix, aimed at boosting his championship bid as the season approaches its crucial final stages.
These technical improvements focus on refining aerodynamics and cooling efficiency, vital at the high-altitude Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez where thinner air presents unique challenges for car performance.
Max Verstappen who is currently third in the drivers’ standings and closing fast on championship leader Oscar Piastri, benefits from the targeted enhancements designed to increase downforce, optimize airflow, and effectively manage thermal loads under demanding race conditions.
The centerpiece of Red Bull’s upgrade package is a newly developed floor design which builds upon the one initially introduced at Monza earlier in the season.
This iteration features a reprofiled upper surface located rearwards of the outer floor fence, engineered to generate additional aerodynamic downforce.
The modification improves the interaction between the floor and the rear edge wing which itself has been reworked to better complement the flow structure created by the updated floor.
This careful aerodynamic synergy is intended to boost local load without sacrificing flow stability, thus enabling the RB21 to maintain stronger grip and stability through corners—a critical factor at the low-density altitude circuit where aerodynamic efficiency can be compromised.
The team detailed the floor upgrade: “Made from the previous specification, a new upper surface rearwards of the outer floor fence—plus sidepod split line—are offered, the latter to accommodate the sidepod revision. These provide the cooling benefit noted above and a small increase in load.”
A comparable rationale applies to the rear edge wing: “To draw benefit from the lowered upper floor surface and made from the previous edge wing specification, a revised leading edge region extracts a little more load whilst maintaining flow stability.”
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Complementing the floor upgrade are changes to the sidepods. The revised sidepod design is aimed primarily at enhancing the car’s cooling capabilities.
Mexico City, situated approximately 2200 meters above sea level, subjects Formula 1 cars to thinner air, reducing the effectiveness of radiators and brake cooling systems.
To tackle this, Red Bull has introduced subtle revisions to the upper surface around the radiator duct inlet and adjusted the sidepod split line.
These alterations improve the internal airflow delivering more efficient heat extraction, thus maintaining optimal operating temperatures for both the engine and associated components without imposing a significant aerodynamic penalty.
Additionally, Red Bull has modified the engine cover’s exit area, introducing a wider louvre exit panel. This change is deployable as needed and offers greater flexibility in cooling strategy to adapt to the specific thermal demands posed by the high-altitude environment.
The strategic management of heat exit points not only safeguards performance consistency but also reduces the risk of overheating, ensuring the power unit can operate at peak efficiency throughout the race distance.
Further addressing the unique braking challenges at the Mexico circuit Red Bull has fitted larger front brake ducts. The demanding altitude affects brake cooling and the expanded inlet and outlet ducts are critical for maintaining brake temperature within the optimal operating window.
This upgrade helps prevent brake fade, a common concern at this venue due to the combination of high-speed braking zones and reduced air density.
It’s unclear whether teammate Yuki Tsunoda will receive the full suite of the new Red Bull upgrade package for the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix.
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