Red Bull Racing has introduced an upgraded floor design for Max Verstappen’s car at the Miami Grand Prix, aiming to close the gap with leading McLaren cars. The team believes the revised floor, which includes reprofiled fences and edges, will add extra aerodynamic load without compromising stability.
According to chief engineer Paul Monaghan, the new floor design retains a similar balance profile, allowing for incremental upgrades. “It’s reasonably stable. We can bring it at relatively low risk,” Monaghan said. The team is optimistic about the benefits of the upgraded floor, which will also feature greater wing curvature on the floor edge wing to extract more downforce.
The upgrade plan, which includes Imola and Barcelona later this month, aims to address balance issues that plagued Red Bull in Bahrain, where Verstappen was outperformed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The team is focused on improving through-corner balance, a key factor in managing tire wear. While the upgrades may not be a “turnkey solution,” Monaghan is confident that incremental improvements will help Red Bull close the gap with its rivals.
The Miami Grand Prix represents an opportunity for Red Bull to test the upgraded car and assess its performance before making further adjustments. With a spread-out upgrade plan, the team hopes to unlock better through-corner balance and improve its drivers’ ability to manage tire wear.
Source: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/what-red-bull-expects-from-f1-miami-upgrade-that-only-verstappen-runs/10718935