Racing Bulls reveal giant airbox in frosty Imola shakedown

Jan.22 (GMM) With most teams keeping their cards close ahead of next week’s first group test, Racing Bulls have inadvertently revealed a striking design feature during a low-key shakedown at Imola.

The Faenza-based team ran its new car on Tuesday in cold, damp conditions – and rookie Arvid Lindblad quickly slid into the gravel. While the off-track moment was harmless, it allowed photographers a clear look at the car as it was returned to the pits on a recovery truck.

What immediately stood out was the airbox.

Even in early renders, the intake above the cockpit appeared large. In reality, it is enormous – flattened top and bottom, with a noticeably wider ‘roof’ section than the lower edge. Trackside observers described it as one of the biggest air inlets seen in Formula 1 for years.

That has prompted immediate speculation about what Racing Bulls engineers – now running Red Bull-Ford power – are trying to achieve. The basic 1.6-litre turbo formula has not changed significantly, making it unlikely the engine simply needs more air to breathe.

A more plausible explanation is cooling. The oversized scoop appears internally divided into multiple channels, suggesting airflow is being directed toward electronics or hybrid components. The trade-off, traditionally, is disrupted airflow to the rear wing – but the benefit may be slimmer sidepods and tighter packaging elsewhere.

The airbox also arrives against the backdrop of stricter FIA rollover crash tests for 2026, which require substantially higher load resistance. Even so, there is no indication Racing Bulls’ solution struggles structurally.

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