Verstappen is optimistic that the clampdown on flexible aerodynamics will benefit Red Bull.

      Red Bull representatives are optimistic that the team will regain its competitive edge this weekend in Barcelona. Team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko arrived in Monaco brimming with confidence following the successful implementation of the upgrade package at Imola just days prior. However, after Sunday’s race in Monaco, he conceded, "I was mistaken."

      Max Verstappen qualified and finished in P4, reporting that his car felt "slower than last year" on the challenging streets of Monaco. He acknowledged that Monaco tends to be a difficult circuit for the recent Red Bull single-seaters and expressed hope that Barcelona would yield better results. When asked if the car is better suited to the Spanish layout, the four-time world champion responded, "Generally speaking, yes, but we’ll have to wait and see."

      A significant factor could be the introduction of new, stricter regulations concerning flexible front wings in Barcelona, which many believe will impact the dominant McLaren team the most. "I hope it makes a small difference," Verstappen commented. "But I don’t expect it to drastically change things. If it benefits us slightly, that would be positive, but we’ll have to wait and see."

      Team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that every team will need to adjust their front wings to comply with the new rules. "Predicting how these changes will affect individual teams is impossible," he said, "but the front wing is a crucial component of the car. Perhaps something unexpected will occur. For us, everything remains open. We aim to carry forward the momentum from last weekend in Imola. Max is 25 points behind Oscar (Piastri), which equates to one win, and there are still 16 races left."

      Red Bull's competitors are also uncertain about the impact of the new front wings on the standings. "It will certainly have some influence," said Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. "It will affect the balance, for sure. However, I don’t anticipate a significant difference."

      Hamilton’s team principal Fred Vasseur added, "It’s always about comparison rather than just raw performance. The field is very competitive. We were just a tenth behind pole position here, and the cars behind us were only six-hundredths off, so even a minor change in a car's potential could be substantial."

      Mercedes principal Toto Wolff remarked, "It will be very interesting to see if anything has changed, whether anyone is slipping back or gaining strength. We need to utilize a different front wing, which is somewhat stiffer. We’ll observe what actual changes occur."