Red Bull Finds Sweet Spot: How Verstappen Still Reached the Podium in Brazil

At Red Bull Racing, the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend was all about analysis and fine-tuning. No major updates were introduced, but behind the scenes, the team experimented extensively with different floor configurations on the RB21 cars of Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda. According to team principal Laurent Mekies, that work provided valuable insight — even if it didn’t deliver an immediate performance boost.

With the season nearing its end, it’s no surprise that large development packages have stopped coming. Most teams are already focused on 2026. Interlagos was also a Sprint weekend, and with unpredictable weather conditions in recent years, few teams wanted to take risks with new parts. Still, Red Bull had a few tricks up its sleeve.

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Red Bull Experiments with Parts

During the first free practice, Verstappen ran the updated floor introduced in Mexico, while Tsunoda used the older version. Both drivers tested the revised front wing that debuted earlier in the year at Zandvoort. Tsunoda, however, lost that upgrade early after hitting the barrier, forcing him to revert to older components for the rest of the weekend.

The biggest shift came after the Sprint race. Verstappen switched back to the older floor, while Tsunoda stuck with the new version. Although the changes didn’t lead to better qualifying results, the RB21 came alive on Sunday. Red Bull now hopes to understand exactly why that happened — especially since Verstappen also started from the pit lane with a new power unit and a different setup.

Understanding the RB21

The two floor configurations differ in several key areas. The rear fences were redesigned, with the upper edge of the outer fence now featuring a stepped profile leading to the sloped section. At the front, the edge wing’s horizontal flap was replaced by an upward-angled profile with an additional vane, improving aerodynamic stability.

Connections between the sidepods and the floor were also revised. The undercut and g-line contours vary significantly between the versions, particularly at mid-sidepod level, a crucial area for airflow to the diffuser.

Mekies on the Team’s Progress

Team principal Laurent Mekies declined to go into technical detail but offered insight into the team’s mindset. “I don’t know if it makes sense to get into it too deeply, but it’s no secret that our operating window is narrow,” he said in the paddock. “It’s hard to find the right balance between setup, track conditions, and car behaviour. But we fight for it every weekend, and this weekend it worked.”

Mekies emphasised that Red Bull learns most from its toughest moments. “You learn a lot more in the darker qualifying sessions than when everything goes right,” he explained. “We don’t make decisions out of luck or panic. We try things because we believe they might work better, and if they don’t, we analyse why. That’s how you grow as a group.”

The Frenchman praised the engineers and mechanics for their dedication. “The guys in Milton Keynes and here at the track ask the right questions. They read, analyse, and challenge assumptions — that’s exactly what you need to move forward. Maybe you don’t see the results right away, but you’re laying the foundation for the next step.”