Formula 1
Red Bull "open-minded" over addressing Verstappen's rear wing concerns
After being on the back foot in Monza and Las Vegas, Red Bull says it won't necessarily prioritise a higher top-speed rear wing in 2025
Filip Cleeren Ronald Vording
Edited: Jan 31, 2025, 11:29 AM
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull says it will keep an open mind about developing low-drag rear wings for 2025 after Max Verstappen voiced his frustration over not having a bespoke design.
In 2024 Red Bull did not develop a bespoke low-drag rear wing and instead trimmed its existing design for low downforce circuits like Monza and Las Vegas.
That left it on the back foot at those venues, as there was only so much the Milton Keynes team could do before its set-up compromise to find more top speed started to cost its performance elsewhere on the car and became a net negative exercise.
Verstappen, who took his fourth straight world title at Vegas after finishing fifth and was a distant sixth in Italy, felt Red Bull had left itself exposed at races requiring low-downforce set-up without a dedicated rear wing.
"It feels a bit like we throw away two race weekends like this because you definitely lose too much on the straights," he said after Vegas.
"We would have liked to have a lower wing, a lower-downforce wing, or at least a different shape, a more efficient shape. But on the other hand, there's only one more year left with these rules, and I don't know if it makes sense."
As Verstappen pointed out, Red Bull may have to stick to its guns as the budget cap is forcing teams to pick their priorities carefully, and the 2026 car project is going to command most of the available resources.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull's technical director Pierre Wache remains pragmatic over the team's 2025 strategy and while the team will look at different options in time for September's Monza round, it may not make sense to develop another wing.
"It has to do with the budget cap, but also with what you found," Wache told Motorsport.com. "It is not because you have a different shape than the other teams that it is worse.
"When you have a massive balance issue, then I don't know if the rear wing was the main issue. We will look at it, what to do next season and if we find something better."
Wache also added that Red Bull may not necessarily find a low downforce rear wing design that actually works better with the design of its 2025 car.
"I don't dismiss Max's comments saying 'we didn't look at it enough', but it doesn't necessarily mean that we will find a better solution," the Frenchman added.
"I think there is a margin between saying 'the others have done that and it is better' and being open-minded. I fully agree with that final part about being open-minded.
"We have to look at what is the best solution for our car. If you find a special shape for Monza and Vegas but it is one tenth slower, then why would you take it?"
Read Also:
Formula 1Newey: "I felt I wouldn't be true to myself if I stayed at Red Bull"
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