Max Verstappen and Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies

Have Red Bull's updates hindered its '26 project? 'It's all worth it'

22:24, 24 Oct

byOlly Darcy

Red Bull's chief engineer, Paul Monghan, has spoken on whether the recent updates brought by the Austrian team have affected their development towards the 2026 season.

"We have taken the choice, and it's a make-from [update], so it's a previous floor that we've managed to recycle."

- Paul Monoghan

A floor update brought to the Italian Grand Prix looks to have transformed the season for the Austrian team, with their newfound pace aiding Max Verstappen to three wins in four races, cutting his championship lead from 104 points to just 40 points.

However, with the new updates introduced for the final quarter of the 2025 season, there may be some repercussions for the newly developed 2026 cars that will take to the grid next year.

"The ‘26 project, about this time next year, we'll get an honest answer, won't we?" Monghan stated in the paddock of Mexico City when asked whether the 2026 machine for Red Bull will be affected by the new floor updates to the RB21.

Max Verstappen celebrating his third win in four races at the United States Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

"We have taken the choice, and it's a make-from [update], so it's a previous floor that we've managed to recycle, as it was sufficiently modular to get it here.

"The redistribution of cooling exits was found when we went through the last iteration of the top body, and we thought, ‘Oh, we've missed that one. We can get it in here, though.’ Some magical work in Milton Keynes, and it's here.

"So, all credit to everybody that pitched in and got that done, because you're absolutely right, we're in the midst of '26, yet we've managed to do that for here. So, if we enjoy the benefits of it, then it's all worth it."

Verstappen's improbable comeback

The update brought to Monza by Red Bull has revitalised the diminishing title hopes of Verstappen, who had all but given up on earning a fifth consecutive world title.

But thanks to three wins in Italy, Azerbaijan and the United States, the gap that sat at 104 points between the Dutchman and championship leader Oscar Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix has been slashed to just 40 points with five races remaining, including two sprint weekends.

With Verstappen on charging form, plenty of warnings have been given to Piastri and McLaren teammate Lando Norris in what is becoming an enthralling battle, with Lewis Hamilton being the latest to do so.

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