Technical expert Paolo Filisetti has provided a detailed assessment of the major upgrade package Red Bull Racing brought to the Miami Grand Prix for their RB22 car. The team arrived in Florida after a five-week break with substantial modifications aimed at closing the performance gap to the front-runners.
While much of the pre-race discussion centered on the car's distinctive 'macaron' rear wing, Filisetti highlights that the most radical changes were found in the redesigned sidepods. The new upper profile features a sloped design with an upper air duct, representing a significant shift in the car's aerodynamic philosophy compared to its initial version. Although a revised sidepod shape was first introduced at the Japanese Grand Prix, the final iteration was presented in Miami.
The core characteristic of this new design is the creation of a larger area of high pressure at the rear of the car. Filisetti notes the concept shares similarities with the approach taken by Aston Martin in 2024 and 2025, but emphasizes that Red Bull's integration into the existing RB22 package is distinct. The internal layout was specifically reconfigured to optimize the performance of this new sidepod configuration.
Another key development was the exceptionally tight packaging of the engine cover around the power unit. This was particularly evident in Miami, where the hot and humid climate necessitated additional cooling vents for the power source. However, this innovation serves a dual purpose. The large arched ventilation channel is primarily for heat dissipation, but it also plays a crucial aerodynamic role. It helps better direct the airflow traveling along the car's body and through the sidepod duct towards the rear, while the use of warm exhaust air aids in controlling the thin boundary layer of air flowing over the rear of the car, generating additional downforce.
According to Filisetti's analysis, the performance of the RB22 has visibly improved since the first three races of the season. The performance deficit to the top teams in terms of pure speed has been roughly halved. He attributes a large portion of this progress to the comprehensive overhaul of the sidepods, which helped address the balance issues the car initially suffered from and which were difficult to rectify.
While acknowledging that not all problems have been solved, Filisetti concludes that Red Bull has established a clear development direction. He states that if this upward trend continues in the coming races, the team will once again be in a position to challenge for podium finishes and race victories.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.