Will Red Bull and Ferrari's upgrades be enough?

THE Formula 1 circus arrived in Baku this weekend with an intriguing subplot: can Red Bull and Ferrari's latest round of upgrades derail McLaren’s charge toward the Constructors’ Championship?

- JEHRAN NAIDOO.

With the papaya team edging ever closer to clinching the title, both rivals have pushed through circuit-specific updates in a bid to keep their hopes alive.

Ferrari's approach: efficiency and survival

Ferrari’s upgrades were aimed squarely at adapting their SF-25 to the unique demands of the Baku City Circuit.

The team introduced an enlarged front brake duct cooling exit, a vital change given the street circuit’s punishing long straights and heavy braking zones, particularly into Turn 1.

Brakes run at the limit in Azerbaijan, and overheating can ruin both race pace and tyre management.

Beyond durability, Ferrari also worked on improving aero efficiency.

They reshaped the mirror supports to refine airflow around the sidepods and toward the rear wing.

Small changes like these can pay dividends in reducing drag, an essential factor for top-end speed on Baku’s 2km main straight.

Finally, Ferrari brought a lower-downforce rear wing option. This setup trades cornering downforce for raw straight-line pace.