The Red Bull Racing team principal, Christian Horner, emphasized that the 2024 Formula 1 championship should be seen as a long and challenging journey, not a quick race. This statement comes after the difficulties faced by the team during the Monaco Grand Prix. Team driver Max Verstappen had already warned that the unique characteristics of the Monte Carlo track would pose challenges for Red Bull, and his prediction proved to be true.
During qualifying, Verstappen found himself in sixth position, while his teammate, Sergio Perez, qualified in 18th place due to a red flag on the first lap. Verstappen was initially in third place but dropped to sixth after hitting the barrier at Turn 1, forcing him to abandon his final lap. Horner acknowledged that the team’s car had issues throughout the weekend, affecting their performance. He emphasized the need to identify and address these issues, as similar tracks with bumps and curbs are coming up in the championship.
Horner also commented on the recent successes of McLaren and Ferrari in the championship. McLaren secured victory in Miami, and Lando Norris gave Verstappen a tough competition in Imola. Ferrari claimed their second win of the season in Monaco. However, Horner believes it is premature to draw conclusions about the championship standings with 15 races still to go. He highlighted the upcoming races in Montreal, Barcelona, Austria, and Silverstone as crucial in determining the true position of the teams. Horner reiterated that the championship is a marathon, not a sprint, and anticipated a challenging weekend for Red Bull in Monaco.
Charles Leclerc’s first victory in his home country brought him within just 31 points of Verstappen, and Ferrari also reduced Red Bull’s lead to 24 points.
Verstappen revealed that Red Bull has been struggling with absorbing bumps and kerbs since 2022, but this issue was not exposed during the team’s dominant performance.
However, Horner emphasized that Red Bull never assumed they had the championship guaranteed and reiterated that there is still a long way to go in 2024.
“So obviously, the outcome of this race is determined on Saturday, and that’s where we had a disappointing day yesterday,” he added.
“To understand, and obviously, we also had difficulties on Friday, so we need to understand the problems we encountered with the suspension and kerbs.
“Now we have a substantial amount of data to analyze and resolve for the upcoming races.”
Horner is convinced that the Red Bull RB20, which incorporates several notable innovations compared to its previously dominant predecessor, did not suddenly become a bad car.
When asked if Red Bull expects to be stronger when F1 returns to conventional circuits after Canada, Horner replied: “No, we don’t assume anything.
“But I believe these tracks will suit the characteristics of our car better.
“I mean, the car has won five races and secured a second place in Miami, as well as winning two Sprint races. So, it’s not like it has turned from a good car into a bad car.
“Just this circuit did not favor our strengths, and we need to identify our weaknesses and find ways to address them.”
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Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton secured another impressive victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday. Hamilton, who currently leads the world championship, dominated the race from the start and crossed the finish line in first place. With this win, Hamilton extended his lead in the overall standings and is getting closer to clinching his eighth world title.
The race in Portugal was marked by several exciting twists and turns. Early in the race, there was an accident involving two cars, which resulted in the safety car being deployed. However, Hamilton managed to stay calm and regain the lead as soon as the race resumed. He showed incredible skill in overtaking his competitors and maintaining a comfortable lead until the end.
Despite some tense moments, the race was generally smooth sailing for Hamilton. He once again demonstrated why he is considered one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history. His ability to control the pace of the race and make intelligent strategic decisions is unrivaled. It’s no wonder he is the favorite to win this year’s world title.
With this victory, Hamilton also reached a significant milestone in his career. He now has a total of 100 wins in Formula 1, an impressive feat that only a few drivers have achieved. His consistency and skill over the years have made him a living legend of the sport.
The next race will be held in Mexico, and all eyes will be on Hamilton once again. With his current form and relentless determination, it’s hard to imagine anyone taking the title from him. It will be exciting to see if he can secure his eighth world title and cement his place in history as one of the greatest drivers of all time.
