The 2023 season witnessed a Red Bull storm with unprecedented domination. The team won almost every race, with no one coming close. Its F1 project was breathing fire, along with sensational Max Verstappen. As a result, the team could clinch the Drivers’ and Constructors’ cups without any trouble.
However, 2024 has been the complete opposite of last season. Despite a solid start, the RBR chariot lost momentum, with technical blockades hindering its victory path. To aggravate its worries, the McLaren squad accelerated as its technical setup hit the bull’s eye. Moreover, the Milton Keynes-based outfit appears vulnerable. With less than ten races to go, the team has to go all in to keep its world title hopes alive. Meanwhile, Red Bull chief Christian Horner thanked McLaren for inadvertently favoring the defending champions.
“McLaren Helped Us,” Christian Horner Takes A Subtle Jibe At Unconventional’ Papaya Rule’
The Woking squad implemented the ‘Papaya Rule’ in the Italian GP, resulting in a tough battle between its two racers. The rule allows both drivers to compete fiercely against each other without boundaries. However, the rule was a big blow to Lando Norris’s WDC dreams. Currently, Norris is closest to overtaking Verstappen in the Drivers’ points table. Therefore, ideally, McLaren should have allowed him to maximize the points in the Monza showdown. However, the squad implemented the Papaya rule, and Oscar Piastri finished ahead of his teammate. Although Verstappen’s sixth-place finish further deteriorated his lead over Norris, cutting it down to 60 points. Perhaps the British racer could have scored more points if his team hadn’t opted for an unconventional rule.
While Norris was disheartened after finishing third, Horner was elated by McLaren’s decision. When asked about the ‘papaya rule,’ Horner stated he is unaware of any such rule. However, the British executive has no complaints, as the McLaren duo almost took each other out during the intense battle. Thus, it helped the Austrian constructors to maintain a decent lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Further, Horner was asked how RBR would have reacted in a similar situation. The RBR chief claimed it to be a tough decision for any team. However, he believes the team has to put its best foot forward at some point. But to pick the right moment for it is a daunting task.
Red Bull’s World Title Hopes Fade Despite Ferrari’s Triumph Over McLaren
Christian Horner acknowledged the immense pressure Red Bull is currently under to turn their situation around, emphasizing that the team feels this pressure more than anyone else. The sting of finishing sixth is particularly sharp, especially given that Ferrari’s internal battles and the skirmish between the two McLaren drivers offered Red Bull some reprieve. Without this assistance, the gap in the Drivers’ Championship could have widened further.
Horner expressed concern that, with Red Bull’s pace, both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships are indeed at risk. He highlighted that the recent race exposed significant deficiencies in their car compared to the previous season. This glaring issue, which was made evident over the weekend, must be addressed swiftly to avoid falling further behind and alleviate the team’s mounting pressure.
