Breaking:FiA Implements Floor Changes to Verstappen’s car following the….read more
FiA Implements Floor Changes to Verstappen’s car following the….read more
Max Verstappen’s Red Bull RB21 will feature technical updates for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, following a formal announcement from the FIA. The sport’s governing body confirmed that the reigning World Champion’s car will undergo two floor-related modifications aimed at improving aerodynamic performance.
Specifically, the upgrades will involve repositioning the car’s floor fences and altering the floor edge. Red Bull intends to move the floor fences to achieve a minor gain in aerodynamic load, while adjustments to the floor edge will involve new surfaces that introduce greater camber to the edge wing. These updates are expected to generate a small but meaningful increase in overall downforce for the RB21, contributing to improved grip and performance on track.
In Formula 1, it is standard practice for teams to bring car updates to race weekends, particularly as the season progresses and development ramps up. All technical changes must be declared in advance, especially before the cars are placed under parc fermé regulations, which restrict modifications during specific phases of a race weekend.
The 2025 Miami Grand Prix follows a sprint race format, which alters the usual structure of the weekend. Under these rules, parc fermé comes into effect earlier—just before the Sprint Qualifying session on Friday. Once it is in place, teams are limited in the changes they can make to their cars until after the Sprint Race on Saturday. Following that race, teams are allowed to modify their setups again ahead of the main Qualifying session and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Despite speculation about his availability, Verstappen is confirmed to compete in Miami. Earlier this week, he was granted an exception from attending Thursday’s media day by Formula 1, a rare move approved due to personal circumstances. Verstappen and his partner, Kelly Piquet, welcomed the birth of their first child, a daughter named Lily. The couple shared the news publicly on Friday, posting photos of themselves with their newborn on social media.
Verstappen reportedly arrived in Miami late Thursday evening, around 8 p.m. local time. He is expected to fully participate in all sessions over the weekend, beginning with Friday’s Sprint Qualifying. With the recent floor updates and a return to the track following the birth of his daughter, all eyes will be on the three-time World Champion to see how he performs under the unique pressure of a sprint-format weekend and a highly competitive field.
The Miami Grand Prix marks a critical point in the season for Red Bull, as rivals look to close the performance gap, and every technical tweak could play a vital role in the championship fight.
