Red Bull’s F1 rivals are ‘intrigued’ by one thing on the RB22 after spotting rule ‘exploitation’

Follow us on Google Discover

Red Bull introduced a raft of upgrades at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, but the design of their new sidepod is understood to have caught the eye of their rival Formula 1 teams.

The Milton Keynes natives overhauled the RB22 at Hard Rock Stadium at the start of May, as F1 returning from a five-week break offered all of the teams a chance to refine their upgrade packages. Red Bull took full advantage of the gap, after enduring a torrid start to the season.

Red Bull focused heavily on reducing the RB22’s weight in Miami, as their car was thought to have initially been around 10kg overweight. The team also debuted their own version of the Macarena rear wing, with a design that allows for a far wider opening than Ferrari’s concept.

Red Bull’s rivals are intrigued by their sidepod upgrade in Miami

Additionally, Red Bull debuted a sidepod update in Miami, despite them having just revealed a different sidepod upgrade at the previous round in Japan. All of their work led to a car that Max Verstappen qualified P2 for the Miami GP in but Isack Hadjar struggled to adapt as well.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Red Bull’s sidepod update in Miami has also ‘intrigued’ their rival F1 teams, according to The Race. Their rival teams are said to have taken notice of the sharp fence at the rear corner of the sidepod where it meets the floor, as they did not believe the shape would be ‘possible’.

Mercedes and Ferrari have gentle slopes in their sidepods, and McLaren’s is more similar to Red Bull’s but does not have as steep a decline. Their concepts also have rounded off areas at the joins between the sidepod and the floor, which is where Red Bull’s design stands out.

Red Bull are suggested to have utilised a ‘clever exploitation’ at the rear of the sidepod that the FIA considers a legal, ‘clever interpretation’ of the F1 regulations, even if it goes against the intention of the rules, by splitting the design in a way that it is not seen as the sidepod.

While the back of the sidepod is generally considered the engine cover, Red Bull’s design at the rear corner counts as part of the floor. Thus, it does not need to meet the same criteria in the regulations that it would otherwise have had to clear the FIA’s checks as the sidepod.

You’re in charge of Red Bull and you can only bring back ONE of these drivers

Who do you go for, and why?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Red Bull’s rivals will have now had time to further analyse images of the sidepod concept in the break since the Miami GP. It remains to be seen whether any teams have been able to create a similar design ready for the Canadian GP when F1 goes to Montreal on May 22-24.

Verstappen clearly felt the benefits of Red Bull’s concept and their other upgrades in Miami, and he could have fought for the podium in the Grand Prix were it not for a spin at the start of the race. Hadjar crashed in the Miami GP, to bring his difficult weekend to an early end.

Hadjar will hope to show he can adapt to Red Bull’s upgrades in Canada, where Verstappen finished second last year at a time when the RB21 was far from being the car to beat. While a rookie with Racing Bulls last year, Hadjar finished P16 from P12 on the grid in Montreal.