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Red Bull’s Shock Start to 2024: Max Verstappen Dominates While Team Questions the RB20’s Performance

David Castro by David Castro
January 11, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Jos vs. Horner: Has Red Bull Really Buried the Hatchet?

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 02: Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner, Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Jos Verstappen talk in the garage as they await the start of qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 02, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411020508 // Usage for editorial use only //

The end of the 2023 Formula 1 season left Red Bull Racing preparing for an intense fight in 2024, as rivals like McLaren and Mercedes appeared to be closing the gap. Instead, the team found itself in a perplexing situation when Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez opened the 2024 campaign with staggering dominance, leaving even their own engineers scratching their heads.


Unexpected Dominance Stuns Red Bull

Red Bull’s RB20 was anticipated to face stiff competition, but the season began with Verstappen and Pérez finishing 1-2 in four of the first five races, often with massive gaps to the field. Rival teams were left disheartened as their hard work seemed futile against Red Bull’s overwhelming pace.

However, this dominance came as a surprise to Red Bull itself. Pierre Wache, who recently stepped into the role of technical director, admitted that the team was bracing for a closer battle.

“We were more surprised at the beginning of the season because of the gap we had,” Wache revealed. “We expected the whole season to be like the end of 2023—a big fight with the others.”


McLaren’s Resurgence and Red Bull’s Struggles

While Red Bull initially dominated, McLaren surged mid-season, overtaking Red Bull in performance. The sudden shift highlighted lingering issues with the RB20, as Red Bull’s rivals closed the gap faster than expected. Wache pointed out specific flaws in the car’s design that hampered its later performance.

“Another aspect is that we didn’t expect some elements would affect the car performance as much as they did. They were not there by desire, but maybe we didn’t focus enough on them. Those elements were still there at the end of the season, and we have to fix them for 2025.”


Challenges Ahead for the RB21

Wache, now leading Red Bull’s technical efforts, has a clear mission: address the RB20’s shortcomings and restore Red Bull to the top in 2025. The key focus areas include:

  1. Aerodynamic Correlation: Improving the accuracy between wind tunnel and CFD data and real-world performance to refine development paths.
  2. Efficacy and Real-World Translation: Ensuring that design elements perform as intended on the track.
  3. Preemptive Adaptations: Avoiding the oversights that led to mid-season vulnerabilities.

Pressure Mounts to Retain Verstappen

Amid these technical challenges, Red Bull faces another pressing issue: keeping Max Verstappen beyond 2025. Team consultant Helmut Marko has confidently stated that the team has resolved the RB20’s issues, but this could be as much about reassuring Verstappen as it is about actual progress.

Verstappen’s loyalty to Red Bull has been key to their dominance, but continued competitiveness is critical to fend off tempting offers from rivals like McLaren or Ferrari. The 2025 season could be pivotal, as it may determine whether Verstappen stays or seeks a fresh challenge.


The 2025 Do-Or-Die Season

As the Formula 1 landscape evolves, Red Bull finds itself at a crossroads. The team that redefined dominance in the hybrid era now faces fierce competition, internal challenges, and the potential loss of its star driver. The RB21 represents not just a car but a statement of Red Bull’s intent to reclaim its throne.

Will Red Bull resolve its aerodynamic issues and fend off the rising tide of competitors? Or will the 2025 season mark the end of its era of dominance? One thing is certain: all eyes will be on Milton Keynes as they work to stay at the pinnacle of Formula 1.

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