Red Bull is of Max Verstappen, and Max Verstappen is of Red Bull. Without Max, it is hard to imagine what Oracle Red Bull Racing is, right? So many drivers come and go, but Verstappen has remained constant in Red Bull since joining the team in 2016. He is the lead driver of the Austrian Racing team, currently driving alongside the Mexican Sergio Perez. Since 2021, of course, Verstappen’s courtesy, the team embarked on its dominant era. Last year, the Dutchman even broke Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel’s records by winning 15 races, the most in a season. Moreover, this year, the domination of the team is even more vital. Checo, Verstappen, and the RB19 all together are leading the team with huge speed gaps. All three races held so far were victorious for Red Bull. Max won two of them.
However, reading the above story must have helped you figure out one thing: Red Bull depends on Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, a very threatening challenge is coming amid this beautiful time for Christian Horner‘s team. Alain Prost, the four-time F1 world champion, is highly impressed with the fastest car as, RB19, and can sense a problem coming ahead. He pointed out that it is the beginning of a long-term crisis that the Milton team will face soon.
The Single-Driver System Of Red Bull Will Not Work For The Team For Longer
The French former F1 driver is not just a driver. He is a four-time world champion. And therefore, he knows the factors that make the team stand tall for a more extended period of time, in which Red Bull is not an expert. Alain Prost figures out that the reigning champion team has been leaning upon a one-driver system for years now. The team solely depends on Max Verstappen. This has been good; the team made wins in 2022 and is making wins in 2023. But not anymore. It’s not gonna work longer!
In his column at L’Equipe, the four-time French F1 world champion stated, “The team is facing the beginning of the crisis.” Why so? because of the “Single’ driver system, Max Verstappen.” He is the reason why Red Bull initiated such a strong comeback. And He will become the reason why the team will fall in the future.
“The single driver system that worked so well for so long is now showing the first signs of failure,” he said. The fact that Sergio Perez is in Red Bull, who is a great driver too. He is not attaining the same career points as Max because, somehow, he always gets to compromise. However, “it no longer seems like he will always intend to compromise.” And then the crisis will begin. When Checo will fight for his rights. When he will stands for his own points that he deserves, but Max ditches him on the track, and the team asks Checo to compromise.
In addition, Alain Prost also suggested a few concerns for Mercedes. He pointed out that the Brackley team tried an innovative concept, but they failed. And now, the team must change the concept. It might let them copy some of the designs of Red Bull.
