The 2023 F1 season was all about one man—Max Verstappen. With Red Bull dominating almost every race except a brief hiccup at the Singapore Grand Prix, fans were treated to a season of predictable results and runaway victories. But behind the scenes, there was a growing concern: was Verstappen’s dominance bad for the sport?
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, has revealed that Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali personally pressured him throughout the season, warning that Red Bull’s winning streak was turning fans away. Domenicali, frustrated with declining TV viewership, reportedly asked Horner to dial down the dominance to make races more engaging.
Horner opened up about the relentless complaints from Domenicali, who was increasingly agitated about the lack of competition. “Every weekend, Stefano was on my back, telling me that viewership was falling because it was yet another Max Verstappen show,” Horner admitted. “He said, ‘You can’t keep winning by 20 seconds. It’s too predictable!’”
The turning point came at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Verstappen’s struggles in qualifying allowed Ferrari to snatch a rare victory. But overall, the narrative was clear: Red Bull was too good, and the thrill of unpredictability that fans craved was fading. The sport’s entertainment value, according to Domenicali, was on the line.
New Challengers Rise in 2024
In the 2024 season, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Teams like McLaren have gone from mid-pack mediocrity to championship contenders, while Ferrari has also upped its game, securing multiple victories. This newfound competitiveness has reinvigorated fan interest, as races become less predictable and more intense.
Horner hinted at a mysterious shift in Red Bull’s performance that left some questioning whether external factors had come into play. Despite reverting to their highly successful 2023 car setup, which had previously dominated races like the Chinese Grand Prix, Red Bull continued to struggle.
“If you’re a skeptic,” Horner mused, “you might say something’s changed behind the scenes. Even when we returned to configurations that worked perfectly last season, the issues persisted.”
Red Bull’s Battle for Survival
With only six races remaining, Red Bull faces an uphill battle to reclaim its position at the top of the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren’s resurgence, particularly with Lando Norris delivering 20-second leads over Verstappen in recent races, has shaken the Milton Keynes outfit.
Red Bull must now navigate a delicate balance—trying to regain its championship lead without sacrificing the Drivers’ Standings, where Verstappen’s dominance is still crucial. The pressure is on for Horner and his team to find answers before their title defense slips through their fingers.
As the season heads into its final stretch, all eyes are on whether Red Bull can adapt and reclaim its former glory or if the new challengers will seize their moment in the spotlight.
