Red Bull Racing surprise with special update in Monaco, Marko explains why!

20:43, 23 May

byKada Sarkozi

Many noticed the front brake ducts on Max Verstappen's car on the Friday. Red Bull brought an update to the front brakes this weekend, and GPblog asked top advisor Helmut Marko about the matter after FP2.

Red Bull Racing had three things prepared in terms of components on the FIA update list, two specifically for this weekend in Monte-Carlo.

The updates list included a changes to the rear wing for performance, and track-specific changes to the front brake ducts and the front suspension.

One of these also caught the eye of technical expert Sam Collins, who discussed it on F1 TV. He found it strange why Red Bull would introduce such a different compared to the previous season.

"Why are those front brakes so much bigger? They found something in the wind tunnel that's not just about brake cooling. I just don't entirely know what it is but it's fascinating and one to keep eye on."

Why do Red Bull have large brake ducts in Monaco? Here is Marko's answer

Talking to GPblog among others in Monaco, the top advisor answers this website's question about such change.

"Because here you have a lot of braking and you need a good cooling, so…," he began.

Asked about why no other team have something similar prepared, the Austrian answered: "If you want to be in front you have to do something different."

The new changes did not help Verstappen to be towards the front in FP2, where he finished in tenth position. However, Marko was still optimistic about his team's chances, he explained to GPblog. According to the Austrian, Verstappen can gain on his championship rivals, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, this weekend. Currently, Verstappen trails the Australian by 22 points in the drivers' standings.

This article was written in collaboration with Tim Kraaij