Red Bull confirm staggering 12 changes to new F1 car

Red Bull heads into this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix detailing the heavy revisions made for its RB21, which includes a remarkable 12 updates compared to its predecessor from last year.

The early development race at the start of this year is no surprise, especially since the teams are hurrying to add as much performance to their cars as possible before switching focus to 2026, when the machinery will be subjected to major regulatory changes, including a new power unit.

Red Bull is one of three teams comfortably ahead of its rivals with the raft of updates on the cars for four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen and new team-mate Liam Lawson, many of which may already have been seen in pre-season testing.

Testing proved disappointing for the team as it completed the fewest number of laps, and there was a clear impression it was lagging behind McLaren and Ferrari, in particular, in terms of pace.

Verstappen has already stated that he does not feel he has the car to win at Melbourne's Albert Park on Sunday.

To that end, the RB21 will enter the weekend with a new front wing, nose, front suspension, floor body, floor fences, floor edge, engine cover, cooling louvres, rear suspension, beam wing, rear wing, and rear-wing endplate.

Aston Martin also has 12 - nose, front wing, front, corner, sidepod inlet, engine cover, cooling louvres, floor body, floor fences, rear suspension, rear corner, beam wing, and rear wing.

Out front is Haas with 13 - front wing endplate, front wing, sidepod inlet, floor body, floor fences, floor edge, engine cover, rear-wing endplate, beam wing, front suspension, front corner, rear suspension, and rear corner.

The biggest change for any team with its car is Ferrari and its decision to switch from a pull rod to a pushrod suspension which it claims has "unlocked several development paths".

McLaren's changes to its car are more subtle with changes to the front corner and beam wing.

The Mercedes has a revised sidepod inlet, floor body, engine cover, beam wing, front suspension, and rear wing.

The changes for the other teams are:

Alpine - sidepod inlet, engine cover, floor body, rear corner, rear wing, and rear suspension.

Racing Bulls - sidepods, front wings, and front suspension.

Williams - cooling louvres, engine cover, front-wing endplate, front wing.

Sauber - engine cover, front wing, floor body, rear wing, front corner, and rear corner.