Analyzing Red Bull's Substantial Miami Upgrade Package

Among the many upgraded cars in Miami this weekend, Red Bull has certainly caught the eye. The team was quick to attract attention as it unveiled a substantial upgrade package upon the sport's return to action.

Between all the new elements introduced, the revised Red Bull car can essentially be divided into three main areas of development. Crucially, these modifications all aim to make the car’s behaviour much more predictable compared to what was seen in the first three races.

Below is a detailed analysis of each significant upgrade.

Front Wing

Red Bull has completely revised the front section of the RB22, equipping the car with a drastically different front wing. The most notable changes involve the endplates, which now feature horizontal profiles designed to direct turbulence downward in the lateral section ahead of the wheels.

While it might seem like a subtle tweak at face value, this is a highly significant development in terms of managing the airflow directed toward the central part of the car.

New Sidepod Profile

The work carried out by the Milton Keynes engineers on the sidepods is very important. The car is now equipped with a rearward ramp extending all the way to just ahead of the rear wheels.

Essentially, the fundamental concept of airflow management in this specific area of the car has been deeply reworked. The primary goal of this reprofiling is to achieve greater predictability in the car’s behaviour, especially in corners.

Rear End

Arguably, the most eye-catching element of the entire package is the “Macarena” wing, which creates a massive slot in the rear wing when the car is running in straight mode.

However, the changes around the engine cover and, most notably, the new exhaust configuration are no less significant. The exhaust now follows a completely different path, aiming to exploit the pressure of the exiting gases to create a large low-pressure area beneath the main wing profile. This solution ensures downforce and load generation even when the wing flap is fully open on the straights.

Undoubtedly, this approach to airflow management—which also acts as a driving force for the flow passing through the diffuser—represents a definitive shift toward a different aerodynamic concept. In practice, this relates to a completely different aerodynamic map, meaning how and where downforce is generated and how it is transferred during cornering.