After taking stock of the first three races of the season, Formula 1's ten teams took advantage of the sport's three-week spring break to prepare the raft of updates that have been introduced in Azerbaijan this weekend.

Undeterred by its dominant start or its cost cap constraints, Red Bull Racing rolled out in Baku an RB19 that featured several performance related changes centered mainly around the car's floor, where the floor's fences and edges have been modified.

Circuit specific updates destined to provide better cooling ranged from a revised sidepod inlet to revisions to the geometry of the RB19's coke/engine cover.

Ferrari has implemented only one upgrade on its SF-23 machine: a circuit specific lower drag rear wing design.

Over at Mercedes, the Brackley squad has made subtle changes to the rear wing endplate of it W14 car, which has also received a reprofiled lower wishbone outboard fairing as well as an increased front brake duct exit, both of which should offer better cooling in Baku.

Aston Martin has mounted specifically for Baku a new rear wing which has smaller upper elements compared to those used so far this season.

McLaren's MCL60 has received but a single performance related update – a new floor geometry – but several track specific component changes including a lower drag rear wing assembly, new rear wing flap trims and new upper and lower beamwing elements.

Alpine has revised for performance purposes the floor body on its A523 and the front and rear suspension on its car, while track specific changes include a revised top rear wing mainplane and a trim to the front wing flap.

Alfa Romeo's C43 displays a shorter chord on its rear wing, a new configuration of its beam wing and new front wing profiles, all of which were changed circuit-specific reasons.

Haas' VF-23 has been equipped with a Baku-specific low-drag rear wing.

Over at AlphaTauri, save for a new rear brake drum that has an additional inlet inboard to increase cooling, all changes were circuit- specific. They include a new front wing flap, changes to the central bodywork, a new upper rear wing assembly and a new single element beam wing component.

Finally, Williams' FW45 has modified the shroud on the underside of the car's nosebox for performance reasons and added a new a lower drag beam wing design.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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