Red Bull brings cooling and sidepod updates to Mexico for Verstappen

Red Bull has brought two updates for Max Verstappen’s car to the Mexico City Grand Prix, RacingNews365 reports, citing the FIA update document. The team had announced after its Azerbaijan update that it would not introduce any more large packages; the Mexican changes are split between reliability and performance.

One update adds extra cooling vents to the engine cover to let warm air escape. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez sits far above sea level, making it harder to cool the car, engine and brakes. The extra openings are intended to help prevent the engine from overheating.

The performance update revises the sidepods and the dividing line between the sidepod and floor, aiming to improve airflow below the radiator-channel inlet. The change is intended to add downforce without sacrificing stability.

Verstappen and Isack Hadjar described the challenge in Mexico as extreme on Thursday. They expected the current engines, especially the turbochargers, to struggle at altitude; with less downforce available, both anticipated substantial sliding. Teams normally compensated for that with Monaco-style wings, but in 2026 they in principle use a single concept.