Max Verstappen, the driver from Red Bull Racing, took the lead at the start of the race at the Australian Grand Prix. The race, which took place on March 24, 2024, was part of the Formula 1 World Championship and was held at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
According to Christian Horner, head of Red Bull Formula 1, the Australian Grand Prix revealed a possible weakness in their RB20 car on circuits that put a lot of pressure on the front tires. The entire F1 grid at Albert Park struggled with front tire wear and heavy graining. Despite Verstappen’s early retirement from the race, Carlos Sainz emerged as the winner. Some, like Sergio Perez, believe that Verstappen would have struggled to keep up with Sainz and Ferrari even if he had finished the race. This suggests that the Red Bull RB20 may not be as dominant and versatile as previously thought.
The last time Ferrari and Red Bull competed for victory was at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023. That race also had prevalent graining and a Safety Car intervention that helped Verstappen secure the win over Charles Leclerc. Horner acknowledged that Ferrari is particularly strong in this area and it is no coincidence that they performed well in Vegas and at Albert Park. He expressed the need for improvements on circuits that put a lot of pressure on the front tires.
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur was asked about the comparison between the races in Vegas and Albert Park. He praised Ferrari’s development in tire wear management and mentioned that they were able to set the fastest lap on the last lap in Jeddah. This indicates that they are moving in the right direction when it comes to managing tire stints.
The weakness of Red Bull in managing the front tires will be tested again in the next race in Suzuka, which features fast and wide curves. This sets the stage for another battle with Ferrari throughout the weekend. The result of the Japanese Grand Prix will provide insights into whether Horner’s concerns will be confirmed and whether Vasseur’s optimism will be justified.
For those who predicted that Red Bull would dominate the 2024 season, the results of the Australian Grand Prix may offer a glimmer of hope. Verstappen’s early retirement in Melbourne gives reason to believe that the upcoming races, starting with the Japanese Grand Prix, will provide a more balanced competition.
