Why Red Bull's upgrades failed to perform in Mexico

Red Bull arrived in Mexico City with further RB21 upgrades, notably a developed version of the floor initially seen in Monza. The team continues its aggressive development strategy to keep Max Verstappen firmly in the Drivers' Championship battle, even as many rivals shift focus to their 2026 cars. However, despite these efforts, the upgrades ultimately proved insufficient to challenge McLaren and Lando Norris for victory. Trackside engineering chief Paul Monaghan explained the floor was a "make-from," a sufficiently modular previous design recycled for the event, highlighting Red Bull's continuous innovation in the current season.