Red Bull has faced difficulties in the last three Formula 1 races – Miami, Imola, and Monaco – in replicating their dominant performance they have enjoyed since 2022.
In 2023, Verstappen and Red Bull experienced an unprecedented streak, with the team winning all races except one out of 22 – Carlos Sainz emerged victorious in Singapore – while Verstappen himself claimed 19 wins out of his team’s 21.
However, 2024 has been a stark contrast compared to the previous year. Despite still leading in both championships, Verstappen and Red Bull have faced challenges from McLaren and Ferrari, with the RB20 appearing more vulnerable compared to its highly successful predecessor, the RB19.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner consistently emphasized that the car designs would align with the pace of the cars, and Verstappen has now added that 2023 was an exceptional season.
After the Monaco Grand Prix, the current F1 champion spoke to the press, stating: “2024 was never going to be like last year; having a season like that is quite unusual. I always anticipated that this year would be a bit different. I don’t really focus on championship positions or anything like that, considering the number of races remaining. Some races are more favorable for us, while others are more challenging. In the end, it all balances out.”
Verstappen further explained: “The cars are much closer. Some cars perform better on street circuits, while others excel in high-speed corners rather than low-speed corners. It will fluctuate.”
When asked about the weaknesses of his RB20, Verstappen identified: “Any track that is bumpy or has kerbs, or requires going over multiple kerbs, will probably pose some challenges. However, I hope that by then, we will have a better understanding of what is going on. We will have to wait and see.”
Regarding the upcoming race in Canada, Verstappen commented: “There will be a new tarmac, which may also bring some surprises. However, it probably won’t be our strongest weekend because of that, but I hope it will be better than here.”
The F1 three-time champion emphasized that Red Bull Racing is not complacent, stating: “We take everything very seriously. However, sometimes things are not easy to fix. Nevertheless, we are working tirelessly on it. First, we need to identify the problem, as we are currently uncertain. That is our initial goal.”
Currently, Verstappen leads the F1 Drivers’ Championship with 31 points ahead of Charles Leclerc from Ferrari.
(Reported by Agnes Carlier from Monaco)
