Will Red Bull and Ferrari's upgrades be enough to stop McLaren at Baku?

The Formula 1 circus arrived in Baku this weekend with an intriguing subplot: can Red Bull and Ferrari’s latest round of upgrades derail McLaren’s charge toward the Constructors’ Championship?

With the papaya team edging ever closer to clinching the title, both rivals have pushed through circuit-specific updates in a bid to keep their hopes alive.

Ferrari’s approach: efficiency and survival

Ferrari’s upgrades were aimed squarely at adapting their SF-25 to the unique demands of the Baku City Circuit.

The team introduced an enlarged front brake duct cooling exit, a vital change given the street circuit’s punishing long straights and heavy braking zones, particularly into Turn 1.

Brakes run at the limit in Azerbaijan, and overheating can ruin both race pace and tyre management.

Beyond durability, Ferrari also worked on improving aero efficiency. They reshaped the mirror supports to refine airflow around the sidepods and toward the rear wing.

Small changes like these can pay dividends in reducing drag, an essential factor for top-end speed on Baku’s 2km main straight.

Finally, Ferrari brought a lower-downforce rear wing option. This setup trades cornering downforce for raw straight-line pace.

On a track that mixes tight 90-degree corners with flat-out blasts, the compromise is always tricky.

Ferrari will hope their mechanical grip and tyre management can mask the loss of downforce in the middle sector, where McLaren have been particularly strong.

Red Bull’s fine-tuning: precision over power

While Ferrari’s package was more visible, Red Bull’s upgrades were about subtle refinement.

The team introduced a revised floor geometry, adjusting the pressure gradients and tunnel shapes underneath the RB21.

This was designed to improve airflow efficiency, keeping ground-effect downforce stable through Baku’s low-speed corners while also trimming drag on the straights.

Red Bull also re-profiled the inboard section of the rear wing, seeking a balance between generating rear stability and minimizing drag.

In a city track that demands good traction on corner exit, especially out of the castle section, this tweak could prove crucial.

At the front, Red Bull opted for a reduced camber on the front wing flap, a move that directly cuts drag and boosts top speed.

With their historically strong floor-generated downforce, Red Bull can afford to give up some wing load without compromising front grip too heavily.

The combined effect is a package tuned for maximum efficiency against McLaren’s straight-line strengths.

McLaren’s golden chance

All of this comes against the backdrop of McLaren’s title charge. With a healthy points advantage, the papaya squad could mathematically secure the Constructors’ Championship in Baku if results fall their way.

Their car has proven versatile on both high-downforce and low-downforce circuits, with strong straight-line performance that suits the long drag to Turn 1.The pressure, then, is firmly on Ferrari and Red Bull.

Their upgrades are logical responses to Baku’s unique demands, but the question remains whether incremental gains can halt McLaren’s momentum.

Unless the updates translate into a significant pace swing, McLaren look well-positioned to not just win in Azerbaijan but also wrap up the title with races to spare.

Meanwhile, in Friday's practice as reported by AFP:

Hamilton topped the times ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Leclerc and former partner George Russell of Mercedes in yesterday’s crash-hit second free practice session for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Piastri and Norris experienced a difficult afternoon of scrapes and suspension failures, the seven-time champion demonstrated why he had felt optimistic on Thursday.

He finished the session with a best lap in 1 minute 41.293 seconds to edge 0.074sec ahead of Baku maestro Leclerc, who is chasing a fifth consecutive pole on the intimidating street track. | AFP