With so much free lap time due to the weight, the fact the aerodynamics in these regulations are relatively straightforward compared to the GE era and these regulations allow teams to copy the smart ideas from other teams much easier, I expect this upgrade to deliver 0.5s+.

Seems to be a new helmet design.Wouter wrote: ↑16 Jun 2026, 11:15Max on his story this morning. ???
https://i.ibb.co/PXtZ5md/Schermafbeeldi ... 101736.png
.Rikhart wrote: ↑16 Jun 2026, 15:30.Wouter wrote: ↑16 Jun 2026, 11:15Max on his story this morning. ???
https://i.ibb.co/PXtZ5md/Schermafbeeldi ... 101736.png
Seems to be a new helmet design.
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/how- ... pment-war/The fact that Ferrari has made a mid-season rim design change, and it is understood Red Bull could be set to follow suit as early as the next race, the Austrian Grand Prix, has shown that this is a design area likely to be pursued by all teams.
Fwiw I think red bull have a lot of ground to make up in this development areaValeo wrote: ↑17 Jun 2026, 18:03https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/how- ... pment-war/The fact that Ferrari has made a mid-season rim design change, and it is understood Red Bull could be set to follow suit as early as the next race, the Austrian Grand Prix, has shown that this is a design area likely to be pursued by all teams.

Everyone in Milton Keynes has been working very hard on that package, and there is no doubt that the Austrian upgrade alone will not be enough.”
“We know we'll need some further steps, but what is important is that we stay on this continuous, closing-the-gap trajectory that we have been on since post-Japan.
https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/autospor ... m_source=xImportant week for Red Bull and Max Verstappen: biggest update package of the year and the car fully up to weight.
Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen's team, heads into the home race in Austria with high expectations. The team is introducing the largest package of new parts of the season so far at the Red Bull Ring.
In early May, Red Bull already unveiled significant updates in Miami, after the Formula 1 season had been suspended for over a month due to unrest in the Middle East. Now, insiders confirm that the new package will be even more significant.
Team principal Laurent Mekies already said after the previous race in Barcelona (fourth place for Verstappen) that the updates should ensure Red Bull gets closer to the top teams, although he added that more steps are needed to truly compete with Mercedes, for example.
Verstappen and Isack Hadjar's RB22 also struggled with significant excess weight this season. At the start of the season, the car was about twelve kilograms overweight. With the updates being introduced in Austria, the car is more or less at the target weight, so the diet is complete. The minimum weight of Formula 1 cars this year is 768 kilograms, including the driver.
The updates at Red Bull are sorely needed, also to satisfy Verstappen. The four-time world champion has not yet indicated that he will stay with the team. As reported earlier, the Red Bull leadership hopes for a quick 'yes' from the Dutchman, with an eye on 2027. Although Verstappen has a continuous contract (through 2028), he could leave the team due to certain performance clauses.