Red Bull’s 2024 season has been like a dreary day with brightness. While the squad has a substantial lead on the points table, internal chaos persists. The Milton Keynes-based squad entered this year with high hopes and aspirations. It was owing to their previous dominance, as RBR appeared unstoppable over the last two seasons. However, a political power struggle split the squad into two groups, and critical members began to leave.
Despite this, Max Verstappen’s outstanding performance has not affected the team’s on-track performance. Although the team’s dominance has diminished, it remains a strong contender to win the championship. However, ahead of the Spanish GP, Verstappen predicted the RBR team could not enjoy the domination again. This seems to be true after a couple of defeats.
Replicating The ‘Early Season’ Domination Beyond Reach As Rivals Gear Up
During the Spanish GP weekend, the triple-world champion shared insights about his next campaign. Although he stated that the squad is excited to return to a traditional circuit, it may encounter stiff competition from the chasing teams. Furthermore, he suggested that regaining similar supremacy at the start of the season would be impossible. Moreover, the Dutchman stressed the intense competition in the F1 development, in which competitors were catching up. Concurrently, he noted that the squad is not under pressure but understands the importance of having a successful weekend as the competition heats up. Finally, he addressed the concerns during Friday practice sessions, emphasizing the need to start the weekend on a clean slate.
While he predicted the rival teams would make winning tough, this was visible in the races after the Spanish GP. Although he won the race in Barcelona, the team has struggled ever since. Moreover, the Austrian GP was a disastrous outing, as Verstappen crashed into Lando Norris, eventually finishing the race in P5. Additionally, he was convincingly defeated by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the recent British GP. Therefore, while his remarks were surprising and criticized by fans for sounding under-confident, perhaps Verstappen was simply being practical.
Christian Horner Believes The F1 Is At Its Peak With Increasing Competition
While the intense competition is a sign of worry for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, Christian Horner believes it’s good for the sport. During a media interaction after the British GP, Horner claimed F1 to be at the best place. Further, talking about the results of the last few races, he highlighted that different drivers are winning. Thus, this adds more flair and flavor for the fans, giving them a thrilling experience. However, he also pointed out that Max Verstappen is the only consistent winner, boasting his racing skills over the others.
The RBR principal might be worried as an executive as his team is getting a tough fight, but he seems genuinely pleased as a motorsport fan. Ultimately, he remarked Hamilton’s win wa ‘very popular’ in front of the home crowd.
