Red Bull's upcoming upgrade in Austria is a topic of great interest in the F1 community, and for good reason. With the new regulations in 2026, the development battle between teams is more intense than ever, and Red Bull is hoping to make a significant step forward. But what can we expect from this upgrade, and what are the potential pitfalls? Let's take a closer look.
The Development Battle
The development battle between teams is a key factor in shaping the pecking order in F1. With the new regulations, teams are making bigger gains than ever before when they introduce new packages. This is particularly evident with Ferrari, who made a significant step forward with their upgrade in Barcelona, and Lewis Hamilton converted that into victory. Red Bull is hoping to do the same in Austria.
The Austrian Upgrade
Red Bull's upcoming upgrade in Austria is their second major upgrade of the year. The first package delivered in Miami featured a complete redesign of the RB22's sidepods and the team's own version of a rotary rear wing, a concept similar to Ferrari's, which team boss Fred Vasseur labelled 'Macarena'. It is unknown which parts will be revised this time, but team principal Laurent Mekies does not believe this step alone will be sufficient to bring Red Bull into genuine contention for victories against Mercedes and Ferrari.
The Weight Topic
One of the potential gains the Austrian package can deliver is further weight reduction, as Red Bull is still understood to be above the minimum weight allowed by the regulations. The Miami package also featured weight-saving measures, and back in May, the team's technical director Pierre Wache told Motorsport.com that the plan was to reach the minimum weight allowed by the regulations (768kg this year) with the Austrian package. However, when asked about the weight topic after the Barcelona race, Mekies sidestepped the question with a joke, saying 'Eat less'.
Ferrari's Step Forward
Mekies was left impressed by Ferrari's Barcelona upgrade package and reckoned the advantage Mercedes enjoyed in the opening races is gradually fading away. Red Bull itself was not as competitive in Barcelona as it had been at some other tracks, as the circuit exposed some of the RB22's weaknesses. Max Verstappen had a lonely race in Spain, finishing fourth almost 20 seconds behind Lando Norris. Isack Hadjar lost ground at the start but still recovered to sixth in a race where Red Bull clearly lacked pace compared to Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, while remaining comfortably ahead of the rest of the field.
The Way Forward
Mekies believes that Red Bull needs to continue to get closer to its rivals, and that the Austrian package alone will not be enough. He states that there is still a gap on the PU and chassis side, and that the team needs to find a little bit of performance in mid-speed corners, high-speed corners, and on the straight line. In my opinion, this upgrade is a crucial step for Red Bull, but it will take more than just a new package to close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari. The team needs to continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible in F1.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Red Bull's upcoming upgrade in Austria is a significant moment in the development battle between teams. While it is a crucial step for the team, it will take more than just a new package to close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari. The team needs to continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible in F1. Personally, I think that Red Bull has the potential to make a significant step forward, but it will take time and effort to get there. What do you think? What would you like to see from Red Bull in Austria?
