Fred Vasseur believed that Red Bull’s private test with Max Verstappen in the RB18 at Imola was not the most advantageous approach. The team had a good start to the 2024 season but faced performance issues with their car. In an attempt to improve the chassis, Red Bull conducted a private test at Imola last week.
The purpose of this test was to gain a new perspective on what could be done with the new chassis. However, Vasseur did not think it was the most effective way to improve performance. Despite this, he had no complaints about the test as long as it followed regulations.
According to Vasseur, the test at Imola was not just for Verstappen to gain more experience driving the car. Instead, it was conducted to gather more information about the chassis and improve its performance.
McLaren and Ferrari posed strong competition for Red Bull, with McLaren showing significant improvements and Ferrari experiencing a decline since their victory in Monaco. Vasseur believes that McLaren’s development is not significantly better than Ferrari’s.
He highlighted that in the 2023 British Grand Prix, McLaren finished only 25 seconds ahead of Ferrari, indicating that their development was not much superior. Vasseur also noted that no driver had a dominant lead over their rivals on the track due to fierce competition.
Ferrari will need to continue implementing updates throughout the season to maintain their advantage over their rivals. There is still a long way to go to achieve Red Bull’s consistent pace this season. The end of the 2024 season promises an exciting championship battle.
