Max Verstappen stated that he was aware that the 2024 season would not be like his exceptional performance last year.
The start of the 2024 season for Red Bull gave hope to fans that they would see a similar performance to the previous season. Verstappen had some impressive wins early in the season. However, the team has already lost three races out of the eight so far, failing to replicate their 2023 performance. Verstappen acknowledged this fact from the beginning of the season.
The RB19 car allowed Verstappen to break records in the 2023 season. The RB20 was expected to continue the previous chassis, but the performance of the 2024 challenger underwent significant changes. Verstappen knew immediately that this season would be nothing like the exceptional previous season in F1.
Furthermore, the reigning world champion has his priorities set to perform consistently well. Verstappen explained that he was not solely focused on earning points in the drivers’ championship. He knew that most of the races in the 2024 season were still ahead and anything could happen in these remaining 16 races.
In order for Verstappen to secure an early lead in the 2024 season, he needed to be extremely consistent. However, he did not finish a race in Australia and two losses have narrowed the gap between him and the drivers behind. As a result, the 26-year-old driver is at risk of being challenged or even losing his top position throughout the season. Therefore, the reigning world champion will need to make an extra effort to establish an early lead.
Verstappen believed that consistency was crucial to winning the championship as the season progresses. His consistently strong finishes in the 2024 season have given him the opportunity to compete for the championship. Therefore, Verstappen emphasized the importance of consistency if he wants to clinch a championship victory in the 2024 season.
Red Bull will need to deal with the significant issues that have arisen in recent weeks. The team is no longer dominant, as many people in the paddock have pointed out. Therefore, the upcoming races and the summer break will be a crucial period for the team to work on the key issues with their car.
© 2024
