The Red Bull has been facing difficult weekends since Adrian Newey decided to leave Milton Keynes. Red Bull has been the dominant force in Formula 1 since the beginning of the ground effect era in 2022. Max Verstappen has won three consecutive world championships with the team. The team’s success has often been attributed to the aerodynamics genius. However, shortly after Newey’s announcement of his departure, the Austrian team seems to be facing difficulties.
The current world champions had a challenging start to the season. During Friday’s practice sessions, Verstappen expressed that his car was bouncing like a kangaroo. Additionally, Red Bull was concerned about Charles Leclerc’s pace. The team is also unsure if they can compete for pole position in qualifying. Milton Keynes is struggling to find the perfect setup for the RB20. This raises the question: is Newey’s departure the cause of Red Bull’s difficulties in Monaco?
Newey is recognized as the technical genius behind Red Bull’s success in F1. However, it should be noted that the 65-year-old Briton had stepped back from day-to-day operations in recent years. Technical Director [name] has been the main person responsible for working on the car full-time during this period. However, Newey’s role continued to be significant in Milton Keynes.
The problems of Red Bull in Monaco can be seen as a result of their rivals closing in on the team. This was considered inevitable by [name]. It can be argued that even if Newey had remained involved in Red Bull’s F1 operations, the outcome would have been the same. However, the team struggled to make their updates in Imola work, which were implemented without Newey’s contribution. These updates had been in development for a long time and likely had the influence of the British designer. Furthermore, McLaren has been closing in on Red Bull in recent weeks. The current world champions did not fail in Monaco solely due to the lack of guidance from Newey. Instead, it seems that the RB20 is not suitable for the demanding track.
Fans may argue that Newey’s absence is the reason for Red Bull’s difficulties. However, Red Bull has repeatedly emphasized that their success does not depend on a single individual. F1 is a collaborative effort, and the Austrian team has the ability to regain its position at the front without Newey’s assistance, although it may be more challenging. Milton Keynes is now entering a new era where the technical team can no longer rely on the feedback of the aerodynamics genius.
