Red Bull Racing, the dominant force in Formula 1, is finding itself shockingly out of step in Sin City. At the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a critical misstep in setup has left Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez languishing in the depths of the timesheets, with the Dutchman 17th and Perez 19th in FP2—a dismal showing for the reigning constructors’ champions.
High-Drag Wing Costs Red Bull in Straight-Line Speed Showdown
Red Bull has arrived in Las Vegas with a rear wing better suited for twisty circuits than the long straights of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. In a track demanding Monza-style low-drag configurations, Red Bull’s higher-drag rear wing has proven to be a costly liability, creating a top-speed deficit of 7 km/h compared to rivals like Mercedes and McLaren.
“We don’t have another rear wing, a smaller one, as we see it on our competitors,” team advisor Helmut Marko candidly admitted. “It would be more helpful, for sure.”
With no alternative wing available and logistics ruling out a last-minute delivery, Red Bull has been forced to experiment. Removing the Gurney Flap was one attempt to mitigate the problem, but the team remains significantly hamstrung for the remainder of the weekend.
Slippery Tires Add to the Woes
As if the draggy rear wing wasn’t enough, Verstappen’s RB20 also struggled to make its Pirelli tires work in the frigid desert night. Las Vegas’ uncharacteristically cold conditions—borderline ice rink for Formula 1—have created a nightmare scenario for tire performance.
“It’s just we have no grip – it’s like driving on ice at the moment,” Verstappen said, voicing his frustration. “We struggled a lot with making the tires work, over one lap especially. The long run started off a bit more competitive, but even there we need to fine-tune a few things.”
Balance Not the Issue: All Eyes on the Tires
Unlike previous struggles in 2024 where car balance issues plagued Verstappen, the two-time champion insisted that this time, the woes were purely tire-related. The RB20 seemed unable to extract any meaningful performance from the Pirelli rubber, a problem exacerbated by the icy temperatures.
“Of course, it’s quite unique conditions around here and very cold,” Verstappen admitted. “But at the end of the day, it’s the same for everyone. We need to try and understand what we’re doing wrong at the moment.”
Rivals Ready to Capitalize on Red Bull’s Misstep
The timing of Red Bull’s struggles couldn’t be worse. With Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari looking strong in early sessions, this weekend could turn into a rare opportunity for Red Bull’s rivals to dominate. Mercedes, in particular, appears poised to capitalize with Lewis Hamilton topping both FP1 and FP2.
As Red Bull scrambles to make sense of its uncharacteristic slump, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable races of the season. If Verstappen can’t claw back performance, it could mark one of the few weekends in 2024 where the seemingly invincible RB20 falls from grace.
For a team that’s grown accustomed to winning at will, the Las Vegas GP may be the ultimate gamble—and Red Bull might be all out of chips.
