Max Verstappen may be leading the 2024 F1 standings with a commanding performance, but the gap between him and his teammate Sergio Perez is casting a dark shadow over Red Bull Racing’s hopes of defending their Constructors’ Championship. Verstappen, with an impressive seven wins from the first ten races, sits atop the drivers’ standings with 331 points. Meanwhile, Perez, who was once seen as a strong second driver for the team, is languishing in eighth place with 144 points and no wins to his name.
McLaren, led by the dynamic duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, has capitalized on Red Bull’s internal struggles. Currently, McLaren leads the Constructors’ Championship by 41 points, thanks to Norris’ consistent performances placing him second in the standings and Piastri holding strong in fourth. The top five drivers also feature Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr., making the competition fierce for Red Bull, who appear to be falling behind in terms of depth across both drivers.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has expressed concern over the widening gap between his drivers and the increasing strength of their rivals. Speaking to Motorsport.com, Horner acknowledged the threat posed not only by McLaren’s formidable lineup but also by Ferrari, who are set to become even more competitive when seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton joins the team in 2025 to race alongside Leclerc.
“We desperately need answers,” Horner admitted. “When you look at our opponents, Ferrari will be strong next year, with Hamilton and Leclerc. Plus, McLaren with Norris and Piastri is a strong lineup.”
Horner’s biggest concern is the lack of consistency from Perez, whose performances have significantly fallen behind Verstappen. “We need to make sure that with both of our drivers, that there’s not a big gap between them because you can’t afford to have that,” Horner added, highlighting the pressing issue within Red Bull’s camp.
Red Bull’s once-vaunted junior driver program, known for its ruthless approach to nurturing talent, seems to be running out of options. Yuki Tsunoda, a candidate for promotion, has yet to show he’s ready for the main Red Bull team. Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo, brought out of early retirement to fill the gap left by Perez’s underperformance, hasn’t recaptured his previous form, leaving Red Bull without a clear solution to their second driver problem.
As the 2024 season nears its climax, the pressure is mounting on Red Bull to find answers and quickly. With McLaren surging ahead and Ferrari preparing for a 2025 revival, Red Bull must address their internal issues if they want to stay competitive. The question now is whether Perez can bounce back or if Red Bull will need to consider a drastic shake-up to maintain their championship aspirations.
