Ferrari, Red Bull: Huge update packages for Austria – McLaren are on top, but can Ferrari and Red Bull’s last-ditch upgrades flip the script? With just two races remaining before Formula 1’s summer break, McLaren is in a strong position. The Woking-based team has firmly taken control of the pecking order thanks to a series of impressive performances, and the MCL39 is now widely considered to be the most well-rounded car on the grid.
However, in a last-ditch effort to stay in the championship fight, both Red Bull and Ferrari are set to unveil their most aggressive development packages yet, beginning with the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg.
The European leg of the season resumes with back-to-back races in Austria and Silverstone, and for both Red Bull and Ferrari, the next two weeks could be make-or-break. While McLaren is surging ahead, their two most direct rivals are digging deep into their technical arsenals, hoping that substantial car upgrades will breathe new life into their faltering title ambitions.
Ferrari’s gamble: A New Floor and Suspension Shake-Up
All eyes are on Maranello as Ferrari finally prepares to unveil long-awaited updates to its SF-25. According to reports from RacingNews365 and other sources, the Scuderia will unveil a brand-new underfloor design in Austria — a significant aerodynamic modification intended to address ongoing problems with instability and tyre wear.
In addition to the new floor, a fresh rear suspension system is expected to be introduced the following week at Silverstone. However, there is increasing speculation that Ferrari may bring forward both upgrades to be ready for Spielberg, unleashing a double-header upgrade blitz.
The SF-25 has struggled for consistency this season, often flirting with the front row in qualifying but failing to sustain pace over long runs. If the changes prove effective, Ferrari could suddenly find itself back in contention for not just podiums, but potentially race wins too. But there’s no margin for error. Ferrari’s technical team, already under scrutiny for the car’s aerodynamic shortcomings, knows that any failure here could mean another year of “what ifs” for the team.
Red Bull returns home under pressure
While Ferrari’s pressure is self-inflicted, Red Bull’s is something entirely different. The defending champions return to their home race in Austria under increasing scrutiny and mounting doubts. Once the dominant force of the hybrid era, the team has faltered this year, with rivals — chiefly McLaren — overtaking them in terms of raw performance and tyre management.
Red Bull will unveil a comprehensive upgrade package for the RB21 in Spielberg. This will include a revised underfloor, reshaped front and rear wings, and a significant overhaul of the front suspension. These are not minor adjustments — they represent a complete redesign of the car’s mechanical and aerodynamic components.
However, even though the team is rushing to install these parts in time for Austria, insiders suggest that the upgrades have been designed with Silverstone’s fast, flowing layout in mind. This means that their full potential may not be realised until the British Grand Prix. In other words, Red Bull may have to grit their teeth and accept reduced performance in Spielberg, pinning their hopes on the Silverstone weekend for a breakthrough.
This cautious optimism isn’t without cause. Sources in Milton Keynes have hinted that data from the simulator and wind tunnel suggest a meaningful improvement in high-speed cornering, which is a known weakness of the RB21 compared to the MCL39. However, the caveat remains that the upgrades must correlate on track quickly.
McLaren remains the benchmark
While their rivals scramble for performance, McLaren remains calm and confident. The MCL39 has emerged as the best car in the field; its superiority is most evident in tyre management, a critical factor in modern Formula 1 where managing degradation often decides race outcomes more than outright pace.
Even in Canada, where the team endured a rare off-weekend, McLaren’s baseline performance remained solid. With both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri delivering consistent results and regularly competing at the front of the grid, McLaren is not only the fastest team, but also the most stable operationally.
This is a stark reversal from last season, when McLaren languished in midfield for the first half of the year before a mid-season upgrade unlocked the car’s true potential. That sudden transformation made them the hunter. Now, in 2025, they are the hunted — and the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull are hoping that history will repeat itself, only this time in their favour.
The stakes in Spielberg
The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg is a track that traditionally favours cars with strong acceleration and traction — traits that have historically suited Red Bull. However, McLaren’s efficiency in tyre preservation and mid-corner balance could neutralise this advantage this year. This means that the success or failure of these new upgrades could become apparent almost immediately over the course of the weekend.
Free Practice 1 and 2 in Austria will be watched closely for long-run pace and degradation. For Red Bull and Ferrari, any sign of competitiveness could dramatically alter the psychological momentum heading into Silverstone. However, if McLaren maintains their advantage despite the upgrades, it could signal the end of their rivals’ realistic title aspirations before the season reaches the summer break.
The midfield battle further complicates matters. Mercedes, now the third-best car, continues to chip away at Ferrari’s points lead in the Constructors’ Championship. If Ferrari’s upgrades backfire or fail to deliver, they could find themselves slipping further behind, both strategically and statistically.
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A make-or-break moment for the 2025 season
As the Formula 1 caravan rolls into the Styrian hills this weekend, the underlying tension is palpable. McLaren has emerged as the frontrunner thanks to a combination of meticulous upgrades, operational excellence and exceptional driver performance. Meanwhile, Red Bull is battling both technical setbacks and internal politics. Ferrari is desperate to avoid another season lost to inconsistency and technical fragility.
It’s not just about gaining a few tenths anymore. It’s about survival in the title race. A failed upgrade could mean conceding the championship and shifting focus to the new regulations in 2026. A successful one? It could spark a whole new arms race as Formula 1 approaches its halfway point.
One thing is certain: the next two weeks will determine the course of the championship heading into the break. Either McLaren’s rivals will close the gap, or the MCL39 will march towards glory with little resistance. While Austria is beautiful at this time of year, for Red Bull and Ferrari it is also a battleground where dreams could be either reignited or crushed.
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