Red Bull Dismisses Max Verstappen's Monza Rear Wing Wish

Red Bull will not provide a special rear wing for the Italian Grand Prix, despite Max Verstappen's request. This decision comes as the team prioritizes budget constraints and upcoming 2026 rule changes.

Why it matters

Verstappen's call for a dedicated Monza-spec wing stemmed from a challenging 2022 Italian GP, where his car lacked straight-line speed. The team's refusal highlights the tightrope walk between optimizing for specific tracks and adhering to the budget cap, while also looking ahead to significant regulatory shifts.

The context

During the 2022 Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen struggled with his car's performance, finishing 37 seconds behind race winner Charles Leclerc. At the time, he openly expressed his desire for a specialized Monza rear wing to improve top speed. "It doesn’t help here that we don’t have a special Monza rear wing," Verstappen stated. "Now it’s something we might have to do next year."

Red Bull's strategy

Instead of designing a unique component, Red Bull plans to adapt their existing low-downforce package to maximize straight-line speed at Monza. This approach allows them to achieve similar aerodynamic efficiency without the significant cost and resource investment required for a bespoke wing.

The details

Red Bull's chief engineer, Paul Monaghan, confirmed the team's stance to media including RacingNews365. He explained that while teams can choose to build dedicated wings, Red Bull must "balance our books by the end of the year." He added that adapting a low-downforce wing achieves a similar outcome, noting, "Whether you choose to make a dedicated Monza wing or take your low downforce and trim it, it achieves something similar."