Red Bull echoes Ferrari move with RB22 upgrade run at Silverstone

Red Bull has endured a subdued start to the season, managing just 16 points from the opening three races, with no podiums and no pole positions, and even trailing Alpine and Haas in the standings.

The clear aim is to turn things around as quickly as possible, with the team at least able to rely on one of the strongest power units on the grid, despite it being the very first engine produced by the Red Bull-Ford Powertrains division.

Max Verstappen hit the track at Silverstone this morning, with the first images of a visibly upgraded RB22 quickly doing the rounds on social media.

From what can be made out in the blurred shots, Red Bull looks to have moved towards wing endplates featuring winglets, in line with concepts already seen on several rivals early in the season.

The rear wing also appears to have been overhauled, with a clearly reworked approach to its movable components. But it’s the sidepods that catch the eye most, now shaped with a much sharper, more aggressive taper than before.

Ferrari has not stood still either, heading out at Monza for a key filming day ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, using the limited running to evaluate a comprehensive set of upgrades on the SF-26.

Among the changes, the team introduced a new front wing specification and an updated floor compared to the version used in the opening races. A revised take on the ‘macarena’ wing also featured, having first appeared in China before being dropped in the following rounds.

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There was also a return for the fin elements at the base of the halo, previously trialled earlier in the season, designed to tidy up airflow around the cockpit, guide it towards the engine intake and rear bodywork, and provide a small gain, especially at higher speeds.