The Red Bull started this season from where it left last year, winning the opening four races. The RB20 looked even better than the unstoppable RB19, and experts picked Red Bull as the favorite. However, the defending champions lost the track with internal misery and technical woes. Additionally, with the rise of McLaren, the Milton Keynes-based team was soon pulled back.
Since the Miami GP, the Woking squad has dethroned the reigning champions and emerged as the new force. Meanwhile, RBR starlet Max Verstappen is enduring an eight-race winless streak. A recent rumor has baffled the RBR triple champion amid this severe slump. It all started when FIA banned asymmetric braking, which coincided with RBR’s downward spiral. Thus, it sparked rumors, accusing the Bulls of cheating. Recently, Max Verstappen silenced all the chatter during a media interaction.
Max Verstappen Dismisses’ Cheating’ Rumors As Red Bull Downturn Coincides With FIA Ban On Illegal Component
The FIA imposed a ban on asymmetric braking, clarifying that no team was found to be using it. However, the rumor factory continued to churn, fueling speculation that RBR’s recent slump is linked to the FIA’s component ban. When AutoSport presented Verstappen with this rumor, he called it ‘bizarre.’ He further lamented that people always come up with such stuff. However, he understands it to be a part of the game, where tactics are always in play. Moreover, the Dutchman uses his 10-year F1 experience to deal with such ‘made-up’ stories and believes in letting them go. He doesn’t read anything related to F1, which is always filled with such rumors.
However, such things always pop up in front of him when someone tells him about it. Although the baseless rumors are concerning, the triple champion doesn’t believe in responding. He is unwilling to waste his energy on such topics and does not care about the outside noise. This is not the first time RBR found itself at the periphery of a swirling rumor. Since the controversy of Christian Horner, there have been endless speculations and allegations about the RBR management. Even the F1 rival bosses like Zak Brown and Toto Wolff have hinted towards a potential fallout at the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Max Verstappen Retaliates To Zak Brown’s ‘Toxic Environment’ Jab
Zak Bron, the McLaren CEO, never misses a chance to attack struggling Red Bull. With the World Championship on the line, Brown makes provocative statements. Recently, the American executive revealed that RBR personnel are ready to leave the setup due to its toxic environment.
In response, Verstappen suggested Brown to focus on his own team. He issued this statement not specifically for Zak Brown but for everyone else who indulges in such verbal spats. The Dutchman urged the rumor-mongers to focus on themselves, stating that’s exactly what he does.