MOTOR RACING: Racing Bulls plan quick-succession upgrades after race cancellations

LONDON – Racing Bulls are gearing up to unveil significant upgrades for the upcoming Miami and Canadian Grands Prix next month, following the disruption of the Formula One calendar due to the cancellation of races in the Middle East.

Team principal Alan Permane confirmed in a video call on Tuesday that these updates were initially planned for different races but will now be brought forward due to the shifting race schedule.

"Miami will now be the fourth round of the season, instead of the sixth," Permane explained. "We had planned to introduce our first major upgrade in Bahrain, which would have been round four, and a second upgrade for Montreal, originally scheduled as the seventh race. Now, with Miami taking on the fourth spot, we’ll be bringing the Bahrain upgrade there and the Montreal upgrade shortly after."

Permane also added that the team would now have more sets of parts available, helping Racing Bulls execute a quick double upgrade in Miami and Montreal.

"There's no way to bring both upgrades to Miami," said Permane. "The Montreal upgrade can't be introduced earlier, so it's a bit of an unusual situation where we’ll introduce a new, significant component, and then almost immediately replace it. But that's just how the calendar has fallen."

Currently sitting seventh in the Constructors' Championship after three races, Racing Bulls, led by British rookie Arvid Lindblad and New Zealander Liam Lawson, are just two points behind sister team Red Bull and Renault-owned Alpine. The team trails Haas by four points, placing them comfortably within the midfield, though still far from the top three.

Permane expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance so far, noting that the upcoming upgrades would help Racing Bulls remain competitive within the midfield battle.

"The lack of races in April has given us a chance to do some unplanned work on the chassis and additional upgrades that weren’t originally scheduled for this stage of the season," Permane said. "While the race team has had some time off, other departments have been working harder than anticipated."

Looking ahead, Permane is confident that the upgrades will push Racing Bulls further into the midfield, improving their overall competitiveness in upcoming races.

"What we've got lined up will certainly help us move further into the midfield battle," Permane added. "Right now, we're in the middle-to-back of the pack, so we’ll look to improve our position, especially in the races where we’ve struggled to be as competitive despite strong qualifying performances."

With these key developments, Racing Bulls are optimistic about their prospects as they prepare for the Miami Grand Prix in May.

-Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters