⟶ In this article :

• A breakdown of Red Bull’s early-season struggles

• The major technical upgrades to the RB21 and what they fixed

• Verstappen’s clinical race at Imola — and why it mattered

• Key performance data and strategy insights

• What this means for the 2025 championship going forward

A troubled start

Nobody expected Red Bull to fumble in 2025. Yet three rounds in, that’s exactly what was happening. The RB21 — meant to be an evolution of last year’s title-winner — was twitchy, temperamental, and hard on tyres. Verstappen was vocal about the balance issues. Sergio Pérez looked even more lost.

The problem wasn’t just setup. The car simply lacked rear grip and aerodynamic coherence. On circuits like Miami and Shanghai, rivals like McLaren and Ferrari exposed those weaknesses without mercy (source).

Fixing the beast

Red Bull’s engineering response was swift and methodical. After Melbourne, they initiated what insiders called an “emergency B-spec update” — quietly rolled out at the Imola GP.

Major changes included:

• A new front wing architecture with a tighter slot-gap arrangement for more stable front-end wash (Motorsport.com)

• Revised sidepods and floor geometry — moving away from their “shark mouth” concept to a Ferrari-style downwash ramp (source)

• Cooling inlets narrowed, improving aero efficiency while keeping thermal stability in check

• Floor edges and diffuser reprofiled to improve flow consistency under yaw and pitch changes (source)

The result? 5% more downforce at no extra drag cost — and better mid-corner grip across both high- and medium-speed sectors.

Verstappen back in control

If Red Bull brought the tools, Verstappen brought the blueprint. His performance at Imola was equal parts strategy, speed, and patience. After a front-row start, he wasted no time overtaking Piastri at Turn 2, then controlled the race with inch-perfect tire management.

He extended his first stint beyond expectations, saving his tyres for a push after the mid-race safety car. Even with Norris looming in the mirrors post-restart, Max opened the gap again within four laps.

Performance snapshot:

• Sector 2: Verstappen’s RB21 was 0.17s faster on average than any other car

• ERS harvesting peaked at 90.2% efficiency — the best seen this season (source)

• Top-speed deficit reduced by 6 km/h vs McLaren — without compromising rear downforce

The pit wall doesn’t miss

Imola wasn’t just won on track. Red Bull’s execution behind the scenes was razor-sharp. A pre-programmed undercut strategy brought Verstappen out ahead of Norris during pit windows — no wasted laps, no confusion.

Standout stats:

• Fastest pit stop of the race: 2.11s, flawlessly delivered by the crew (source)

• Adjusted torque map deployment based on track telemetry to minimize wheelspin off cold tyres

• Pre-warning system integration during VSC phases reduced reaction lag by 18% vs Mercedes

Every small edge compounded into a big win.

The title picture shifts

Verstappen’s win at Imola slashed Piastri’s championship lead from 36 to 22 points. Red Bull sits second in the Constructors’ standings — just 11 points behind McLaren. But beyond the numbers, the psychological swing is real: the RB21 is no longer playing defense.

Upcoming races — Monaco, Montreal, Austria — will test whether this version of Red Bull can dominate across circuit types. A low-speed suspension upgrade is rumored for Monaco, as well as a rear-wing tweak to improve balance on traction-limited exits (source).

And Verstappen? He’s locked in.

Final lap

Imola wasn’t just another win for Red Bull. It was a redemption arc — a message to the paddock that when this team gets hit, it recalibrates fast. The RB21 is now sharper, smarter, and finally shaped around Verstappen again.

Piastri may be leading the points, but the momentum is shifting. And when Red Bull smells blood in the water, history tells us what comes next.

This season isn’t cooling down — it’s just starting to burn.