P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull’s deliberately taken attention back off the 2026 rules as it mounts its late-season 2025 F1 title push
Red Bull has acknowledged that their continuous enhancements to their 2025 Formula 1 car have led to diverting attention from the preliminary work on next year’s major rule adjustments.
The introduction of a new front wing for the Singapore Grand Prix enabled Max Verstappen and Red Bull to outperform their primary rival McLaren on a high-downforce track for the first time this season, even though it did not secure Verstappen’s third consecutive victory.
Despite not matching McLaren’s race pace in Singapore, being George Russell’s closest competitor in both qualifying and the race marked a significant achievement for Red Bull, underscoring the importance of their qualifying performance in obtaining crucial track position.
Verstappen’s impressive performances against McLaren this season, notably his victory at Suzuka in April, have been attributed to Red Bull’s ability to make a lower-drag setup effective on circuits with substantial aerodynamic compromises.
The recent success of Red Bull, including wins in Monza and Baku, as well as competitiveness in Singapore, illustrates their progress in addressing the weaknesses of their car, particularly through enhanced floor development and the introduction of the new front wing in Singapore.
While the focus on present performance may impact their preparations for the 2026 rule changes, Red Bull views it as a necessary trade-off to gain insights for next year’s car development and to validate their development processes and tools.
Although the decision to prioritize current performance over future rule changes is unconventional, Red Bull believes it is vital for understanding the potential of their current car and building confidence for the upcoming season, with Max Verstappen poised for stronger showings in the remainder of the championship.
