Racing Bulls kicked off its 2025 Formula 1 campaign with the track debut of its VCARB 02, featuring a stunning white livery that has already become a fan favorite.
The Faenza-based team put its new machine through its first paces at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola on Thursday, just days after unveiling the revamped design at F1’s season launch event in London.
Driving the car during a restricted filming day, Yuki Tsunoda and rookie teammate Isack Hadjar completed 200 kilometers of running, giving fans their first glimpse of the VCARB 02 in motion.
The track session marks the start of what Racing Bulls hopes will be a more consistent and competitive season following the ups and downs of 2024.
Built on Red Bull DNA
The VCARB 02 is built in large part on the architecture of Red Bull Racing’s 2024 RB20, which powered Max Verstappen to his fourth consecutive title.
While the technical relationship between Red Bull Racing and its sister team has always been a point of scrutiny, Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies was quick to emphasize that the collaboration is entirely within the rules.
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“We try to share what is within the regulations,” Mekies told the media earlier this week in London.
“It is not 100 percent of the load, but it’s the main components we can share: the gearbox, [and] suspension.”
This partnership ensures Racing Bulls benefits from top-tier technology, but the team remains responsible for its own performance and development.
Lessons Learned from 2024
Racing Bulls enters 2025 determined to improve on its eighth-place finish last season, which was marred by mid-season struggles with upgrades that hindered the car’s performance.
Mekies revealed that the team has worked hard during the off-season to address the issues that plagued their predecessor car and aims for a more consistent campaign this year.
“We had very good moments last year; we had more difficult races,” admitted the Frenchman.
“In terms of overall targets, we have tried to understand what made our car not so consistent last year, and hopefully we will be able to address some of that.”
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Mekies added that, while Racing Bulls has made progress, there is still work to be done to climb the competitive order.
“We’re continuing to evolve the team and build it stronger,” he said. “I’m not here to tell you that we think we have solved all of our competitiveness issues, no, but certainly the team is gelling together in the right direction.”
With Tsunoda now entering his fifth season with the team and Hadjar embarking on his rookie year, Racing Bulls has a mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm to steer its elegantly looking new machine.
The Japanese driver’s leadership will be crucial as Hadjar adjusts to life in Formula 1, while both drivers will aim to maximize the potential of their new car.
As the team heads toward the season opener in Australia, hopes are high that the VCARB 02’s promising debut is a sign of greater things to come for Racing Bulls in 2025.
Fans, meanwhile, are already captivated by the car’s sleek white design and eager to see it in action on race day.
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