Red Bull’s dominance at the start of Formula 1’s ground-effect era seemed untouchable, led by Max Verstappen’s near-flawless performances. However, in 2024, cracks have begun to show, with the team losing ground to McLaren and facing critical issues with the RB20. Red Bull’s team boss recently revealed that the problems with their car’s development actually began much earlier than previously thought—dating back to the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix. And the reason these issues remained hidden? The sheer brilliance of Max Verstappen.
For over a year, Verstappen’s extraordinary driving masked the underlying balance issues of the RB20, as he continued to dominate and shatter records. His skill was so remarkable that even when the car was getting progressively worse, his performances painted a picture of invincibility. Only now, with Verstappen himself struggling for results—his longest winless streak in seven races—are Red Bull’s flaws fully exposed.
Team boss Christian Horner acknowledged that the development mistakes Red Bull made were obscured by Verstappen’s ability to consistently extract every ounce of performance from the car. It’s a testament to the Dutchman’s status as a modern legend of Formula 1 that his supreme talent kept Red Bull’s dominance alive long after the RB20 started to falter.
Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, recently highlighted that Verstappen’s struggles this season mirror the challenges he’s been facing for two years. Perez’s comments underline just how difficult the RB20 has become to drive, even for an F1 driver of Verstappen’s caliber. Yet, in 2023, Max’s brilliance allowed him to remain “virtually untouched” by the car’s shortcomings—until now.
As Verstappen faces the task of defending his title amidst McLaren’s resurgence, his challenge has never been greater. With Red Bull grappling to resolve the RB20’s balance issues, the three-time world champion will need to summon every bit of his legendary skill to reclaim the top spot. But if anyone can do it, it’s Max Verstappen—the driver who carried Red Bull on his back, even when the car couldn’t keep up.
