Red Bull set for ‘radical’ overhaul of Verstappen’s RB21 at Imola in bid to halt McLaren’s momentum – As Formula One returns to Europe for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing finds itself in a position few could have predicted a year ago. In 2024, Max Verstappen arrived at Imola with a comfortable 33-point lead in the championship. Fast forward to 2025 and the Dutchman trails Oscar Piastri by 32 points – a staggering 65-point swing that underlines the seismic shift in F1’s competitive order.
Red Bull, once the undisputed benchmark in modern F1, is now on the defensive. McLaren have emerged as the dominant force of the new season, not only leading the constructors’ championship but also establishing their drivers – Piastri and Lando Norris – as the clear favourites for the title. Verstappen, the reigning four-time world champion, has refused to go down without a fight, often dragging the RB21 into the fight despite its increasing limitations.
As the European leg of the season gets underway, Red Bull are set to implement what has been described as a “radical” upgrade package on Verstappen’s car – a move seen as vital to reversing their declining fortunes and closing the gap on the rampant McLarens.
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Radical sidepod overhaul to lead Red Bull’s Imola upgrade package
According to RacingNews365, Red Bull’s headline change at Imola will be a dramatic overhaul of the sidepod design on Verstappen’s RB21. The upgrade is part of a wider package aimed at restoring the team’s competitive edge, and is being treated internally as a make-or-break move for the 2025 campaign. Red Bull is said to view the Imola weekend as a “crucial” opportunity, both in terms of championship momentum and internal team stability.
The sidepod concept being introduced is a significant departure from the existing design and marks the most aggressive change Red Bull have made to the RB21 chassis so far this season.
This change in philosophy is designed to address one of the car’s most persistent weaknesses – aerodynamic instability, particularly through mid to high speed corners.
Complementing the changes to the sidepods are improvements to the vertical airflow guides under the car. These adjustments are designed to better manage airflow under the floor, improving the efficiency of the ground effect and overall downforce. This is in response to the ongoing balance issues that have plagued Verstappen’s campaign and increasingly exposed Red Bull’s vulnerability on technical, high downforce circuits.
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Revised rear bodywork and suspension tweaks also on the cards
In addition to the sidepods and floor updates, Red Bull is also expected to introduce a revised rear bodywork that will work more harmoniously with the car’s suspension system. These changes will aim to create a more stable aerodynamic platform and improve traction, particularly in the traction zones that have highlighted McLaren’s advantage.
While it is confirmed that Verstappen will receive the full package of upgrades at Imola, it remains uncertain whether Red Bull’s sister team, VCARB, will receive the same components.
However, there are indications that Yuki Tsunoda could be running a modified version of the rear bodywork as part of Red Bull’s wider data gathering exercise.
The upgrade cycle comes at a critical point in the calendar. After Imola, seven of the next eight races are in Europe – the traditional heartland of F1 – with only a brief interlude for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Red Bull understand the urgency of regaining ground before the summer break locks up much of the championship hierarchy.
Verstappen’s drive masks shortcomings as McLaren set the pace
Despite the RB21’s shortcomings, Verstappen has managed to keep himself in the championship picture through sheer tenacity and brilliance behind the wheel. But even his best efforts could not prevent a humiliating fourth-place finish at the Miami Grand Prix, where he crossed the line nearly 40 seconds behind winner Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen started the race on pole, but after overtaking Norris in Turn 2 on the opening lap, he had no answer to McLaren’s relentless pace. The Dutchman’s resolute defensive driving briefly kept Piastri and Norris at bay, but the superiority of the McLaren package eventually told.
It was a clear sign that Red Bull could no longer rely on Verstappen’s skill alone to stay competitive.
The upgrades that will be rolled out at Imola are not only aimed at giving Verstappen the tools to compete, but are also seen as a crucial moment in restoring the team’s credibility as a title contender.
Christian Horner under scrutiny amid team turmoil
The stakes at Imola go beyond the championship. Team Principal Christian Horner finds his leadership under increasing scrutiny from within the Red Bull camp. The team’s stuttering start to the 2025 season – in which they trail McLaren by 141 points in the Constructors’ Championship – has reportedly shaken the confidence of Thai majority shareholder Chaleo Yoovidhya.
Horner’s position, once unassailable after overseeing Red Bull’s dominance over several eras, now looks increasingly precarious. The success or failure of the Imola improvements could have a direct impact on his future in Milton Keynes. Should Red Bull fail to close the gap on McLaren in the coming rounds, it is believed that there could be significant upheaval in the leadership structure.
It’s not just about lap times anymore – it’s about reasserting authority within the team, reassuring stakeholders and proving that Red Bull still has the agility and ingenuity to bounce back from adversity.
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McLaren’s rise has rewritten the championship narrative
The rise of McLaren in 2025 has been as stunning as Red Bull’s decline. The team’s all-British driver pairing of Norris and Piastri has matured into a devastatingly consistent and fast duo, backed by a car that seems to excel on a wide variety of circuit layouts.
Their aerodynamic efficiency, power unit performance and tyre management have set a new standard in the sport – and McLaren’s technical team, led by Peter Prodromou and Neil Houldey, have found the kind of sweet spot that made Red Bull almost unbeatable a year ago.
Verstappen remains McLaren’s biggest threat, but without a competitive car underneath him, his quest for a fifth world title looks increasingly unlikely. The RB21 has proved difficult to set up, lacks consistency over a race stint and struggles in dirty air – all issues that McLaren have largely mastered.
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Imola and beyond
Imola marks the start of a critical period of the season. Red Bull’s upgrade package could be the first step in halting McLaren’s runaway success – or it could mark the moment when the team’s 2025 campaign slips irreversibly out of reach. The following races at Monaco, Barcelona, Spielberg, Silverstone, Budapest and Spa offer a variety of challenges and a strong performance at Imola would go a long way to building momentum.
For Verstappen, it is another chapter in his storied career of fighting against the odds. For Red Bull, it is a crucial test of their resilience, creativity and leadership. And for Christian Horner, it could be as much a fight for survival as it is a fight for victory.
When the lights go out at Imola, all eyes will be on the RB21 – and whether Red Bull’s ‘radical’ overhaul can reignite their season.
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Red Bull Racing are the most successful of the ‘new’ teams in modern Formula One history. The Milton Keynes based outfit was formed from the ashes of the Jaguar F1 racing programme which was Ford’s last foray into the pinnacle of motorsport.
From the turn of the millennium until 2004, Jaguar Racing competed in F1 although the top down management from the US stifled much of the flair and capabilities of the engineers whose best efforts could only see them finish a lowly seventh in the constructors’ championship. The team was sold to Red Bull energy drinks mogul, Didi Mateschitz, for the 2005 season.
The infrastructure back at base left a lot to be desired, yet the newly appointed Christian Horner who had bio F1 experience quickly assembled a team around him which went on to claim both F1 titles just five years later. This success continued into 2013 giving the new rowdy kids on the block eight titles in just four years…. READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
