Red Bull has only emerged victorious in a single race in its last three appearances. Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko, and Christian Horner started the season as title favorites and dominated the early stages of the championship. However, their performance seems to have declined, with Verstappen only managing five wins in eight races. Amidst this slump, the reigning champion is apprehensive that the resurfacing of the track in Canada could once again spell disaster for him.
Red Bull had previously been the standard on the F1 grid in recent seasons. Furthermore, Verstappen’s exceptional skills were considered their trump card. However, since the announcement of his departure, the team has struggled to keep up with their competitors. Additionally, organizers of the Canadian GP have revealed that the track has recently undergone resurfacing, which usually results in slippery asphalt, as the tarmac is not yet rubbered in.
Verstappen is concerned about the potential consequences of the resurfacing, fearing it may bring unexpected challenges for his team. He acknowledged that he would have to wait until Friday to assess how the car would perform on the street circuit. He further speculated that this change could bring surprises and wreak havoc for the Austrian team. However, he expressed hope that this weekend would be better than Monaco, although no definitive conclusions can be drawn in advance.
While Verstappen worries about the dilemma facing the Red Bull camp due to the irregular nature of the track, the situation is quite distressing for McLaren and Ferrari. This is mainly due to their rapid rise to the top. The British driver detailed the precarious circumstances currently surrounding Red Bull.
Horner agreed with Verstappen’s concerns about the resurfacing of the Montreal track. However, he was more focused on the other challenges that the Austrian team had to face, namely their fierce rivals McLaren and Ferrari. As a result, the team finds itself in a difficult position, struggling to maintain their lead in the championship standings.
In addition to these challenges, McLaren and Ferrari have emerged victorious in several races during the current season, with their most recent win taking place in Monaco. This unexpected yet exciting championship battle may intensify as the rivals close the gap between them.