Red Bull chief issues warning: 'RB21's difficulties may never dissappear'

22:17, 02 May

byNorberto Mujica

Red Bull Racing has introduced a floor update to the RB21 for the Miami Grand Prix. Chief Engineer, Paul Monaghan dials down expectations saying it's not a turn key solution and issues stern warning that the car's difficulties may never truly dissappear.

The adjustments being made to the floor mainly concern the floor fences and edges. These have been redesigned to increase downforce and improve aerodynamic stability. Despite the fact the team onloy has one practice session this weekend, Monaghan does not see the short time as cause for concern.

"It's reasonably stable," Monaghan told GPblog and others. "We can bring it at relatively low risk because it's a sprint race, and it's an opportunity to do it. We were able to do it. People work really hard in the factories, put it on the car, and enjoy the benefits. Is it low risk? It's only raised in your one session to check it all out."

'RB21's issues may never dissappear from the car'

However, Monaghan does not expect the floor upgrade to be a miracle cure. Furthermore, the engineer does not believe there even is one for Red Bull Racing's car. But they understand the issues and they can extract more lap time and performance from the car as is.

"It's not a turnkey solution to unlock. It's going to be incremental improvements on the car. We understand what's happened but actually affecting a cure is not that straightforward. It may never disappear from the car."

Can we reduce the magnitude and improve the lap time? Yes. Just a lot of clever people at Milton Keynes are working hard to improve, and it will come."

Red Bull Racing did reasonably well during the only practice session. Max Verstappen managed to end in third place, albeit nearly half a second off of leader Oscar Piastri's pace. Yuki Tsunoda finished five spots behind teammate, in P8.