Red Bull have often been a source of inspiration for rival Formula 1 teams over recent years after dominating since the re-introduction of ground-effect cars back in 2022.
F1 rewrote its technical regulations before the 2022 season to bring ground-effect cars back after 39 years. The pinnacle of motorsport earlier banned ground-effect cars in 1983 due to the cornering speeds being achieved. But the philosophy returned to try and aid overtaking.
Red Bull aced the re-introduction of ground-effect regulations like no other F1 team could as design legend Adrian Newey proved to be a huge advantage given his rare knowledge of the subject. It took until 2024 for McLaren to knock Red Bull off their perch as the team to beat.
Max Verstappen still won the Formula 1 drivers’ championship last season to seal his fourth title in as many years, despite Red Bull falling to third in the constructors’ standings. The 27-year-old also ensured their car still got nine Grand Prix and four Sprint wins plus eight poles.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links
Verstappen will now try to win a fifth drivers’ title in a row in Red Bull’s first car not designed by Newey since 2006. Pierre Wache has taken charge of the technical department in the last year of the current rules set with F1 introducing new engine and chassis regulations in 2026.
Racing Bulls ‘not fooled’ into copying Red Bull’s cooling system with their 2025 F1 car
With teams needing to split all resources between their 2025 and 2026 designs this season, Racing Bulls and Red Bull are working closer than ever. That is according to Motorsport.com, which reports the Faenza outfit have copied a lot of parts from the RB20 for the VCARB 02.
Racing Bulls have followed their parent team’s philosophy for the VCARB 02’s pull-rod front suspension and push-rod rear suspension. But Racing Bulls technical director Jody Egginton was ‘not fooled’ into copying the Red Bull RB20’s cooling system with their new 2025 F1 car.
Egginton and his team chose against replicating the RB20’s multi-stage cooling system as it caused Red Bull plenty of problems developing their car last season. Racing Bulls hope the work their design team put into the VCARB 02 now helps them firmly seal a mid-table place.
Racing Bulls seemingly took inspiration from Red Bull’s Honda tribute for their 2025 livery
Red Bull sprung a surprise when they unveiled their multi-stage cooling system for the RB20 during pre-season testing one year ago. The Milton Keynes outfit hit the Bahrain Grand Prix circuit with repositioned radiators and cooling vents in the sidepods and under their engine.
READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation
Racing Bulls clearly felt moving their radiators and cooling ancillaries to be under the engine cover and sidepods of the VCARB 02 would not bring enough benefits to make the tweaks a valid option. Avoiding having any extra issues can also let Racing Bulls work on 2026 sooner.
The £965m-valued Racing Bulls team have seemingly taken inspiration from Red Bull for the design of the VCARB 02, though. Many fans were quick to note how Racing Bulls’ 2025 livery is similar to Red Bull’s Honda tribute at the 2021 Turkish GP where Verstappen came second.
