Red Bull breakthrough offers Max Verstappen hope for rest of the season

Max Verstappen’s pole position for the Italian Grand Prix surprised many in the Monza paddock, with the four-time F1 drivers' champion bettering the efforts of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

The performance of the Red Bull during the free practice sessions was competitive, yes, but seemingly not strong enough to beat the two McLarens in qualifying and, to a certain extent, the Ferraris as well.

The result achieved in Q3 was therefore seen by many as yet another masterpiece from the Dutchman, capable of compensating for the RB21's weaknesses with sheer talent.

In reality, despite the contribution of the reigning champion to the overall performance, an interesting detail emerged.

According to immediate post-qualifying reports, there was clear and confirmed satisfaction among the Milton Keynes-based team’s engineers, led by Pierre Waché, regarding the car's specific performance.

The reason for this satisfaction lies in the fact that the new version of the RB21’s floor -modified at the level of the Venturi channels and the lower flow conditioners - has effectively improved the aerodynamic balance and the distribution of the downforce generated by the floor.

This is therefore not a change that only applies to Monza’s specific characteristics, but rather a development whose benefits could extend to all remaining circuits until the end of the season.

In practice, the Temple of Speed was chosen for its introduction because the track layout - and more importantly, the smoothness of its tarmac - allowed for a precise evaluation of the gains this new component could deliver.

In this way, the team received clear confirmation that the work done over the summer is starting to bear fruit, also with a view towards 2026.

It’s worth reiterating that the vehicle dynamics of next year’s cars will remain closely linked to those of the current generation.

Therefore, finding the right aerodynamic compromise to improve the overall balance of the car was a conditio sine qua non - in other words, a bottleneck that had to be overcome with future prospects in mind.