The Imola GP kicked off the European leg of the season, and most teams started to bring major upgrades to their 2025 challengers. For some teams, the upgrades flattered to deceive. However, some teams were able to find improvements within the car and push forward.
The main teams that showed progress were Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin. These three teams took steps forward, and it showed on track at different stages of the race weekend. We look into how these new upgrade packages reshaped the pecking order during the Imola GP.
Red Bull solves tyre gremlins in Imola
Red Bull has had two major issues this season: balancing problems and high tyre wear. They brought three major upgrades to the car to help solve these issues: a new rear suspension, rear corner and engine cover. On Friday, these updates looked to have made no impact as Red Bull were nowhere. However, come Saturday, the Red Bull looked quick.
Max Verstappen lost out on pole position by 0.034 seconds. After taking the lead into turn 1, the Dutchman dominated the race and had a large gap back to the McLarens. This was because he could keep the tyres alive, unlike in previous races.
Red Bull Pins Hopes on Crucial Upgrades to Close Gap to McLaren
Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko claimed the upgrades had worked, saying: “I think the updates that have been made have now had their full effect. We were actually the same or better than McLaren in terms of tyre wear.”
This is a positive step for Red Bull as they look to help Max Verstappen win a fifth consecutive world championship. It is a major difference to Verstappen, who finished 40 seconds behind McLaren in Miami. If they can cure all their gremlins in the RB21, then we could have a classic championship with three drivers fighting for the title.
Lewis Hamilton felt more comfortable in the SF-25 in Imola
Ferrari had a difficult start to their home race, with both cars exiting during the second qualifying stage. However, come race day, both cars progressed well into the points. Charles Leclerc might have scored higher if it wasn’t for poorly timed safety cars, while Hamilton recovered to P4.
The latest upgrades helped make seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton feel more comfortable with the SF-25. He said: “There are lots of positives to take away from today. We had a taste, so now we really need to dissect it and understand where and why.
“I did think we’d make a decision this weekend with something to try and fix, and I believe there’s more to come. But the set-up was really good—maybe a couple of things were finally set up right.”
Ferrari showed good race pace on Sunday, but has to improve on Saturdays to become more competitive. This weekend saw the introduction of the C6 tyre, Pirelli’s softest compound. The drivers must adapt to it to keep it alive for a whole lap. But the race showed that the updates has improved the car, and that they were faster than Mercedes.
Aston Martin testing 2026 technology
Aston Martin has had a disappointing start to the season and has sometimes been the slowest car during grand prix weekends. The Silverstone-based team has decided to stop upgrading the car and use it to test 2026 technology. The Green team brought the biggest upgrade package to Imola, with seven new parts on their car.
Team principal Andy Cowell said: “There are technologies we’ve thought about for 2026 that we are going to test on the 2025 car. It’s the only way to validate things for the future – if it works in the race, then it truly works. So we are going to use this car to test and perfect tools for a team.”
Aston Martin to Trial Adrian Newey’s 2026 Technologies on 2025 F1 Car
The upgrades worked as the team found the pace they hadn’t shown all season. Fernando Alonso qualified in P5 and stayed with the cars in front of him until the pit stops. It was only down to poor strategy that the two Aston Martins fell out of the top ten and failed to score. But there are positive signs for the rest of this season and beyond for Aston Martin.
