The 21st century has witnessed some of the most flawless drivers in motorsport history. It started with the dominance of Michael Schumacher with Ferrari. After winning seven world titles, Schumacher passed the baton to Lewis Hamilton. As a result, the F1 world saw Hamilton’s excellence. The Briton won seven world titles and was looking unbeatable. However, a young Dutch driver in Red Bull’s outfit turned it around with his phenomenal racing skills.
Max Verstappen became synonymous with success and domination. Since 2021, Verstappen has been the undisputed champion. The RBR driver won three consecutive world titles and started the 2024 season as the top contender. However, things look gloomy after a shoddy performance in Monaco. Despite all the criticism, Verstappen has a unique challenge for the entire F1 grid.
Verstappen Claims No One Could Drive RB20 ‘Faster Than Me’
The Red Bull team is suffering from internal unrest. Since the start of 2024, tensions have escalated at Milton Keynes due to a power struggle fueled by internal politics. Further, the verbal exchange and speculations were at their peak amid the chaos. Moreover, the team principal, Christian Horner, was embroiled in a sexual misconduct case. Consequently, some of the key personnel decided to leave the setup. While the RBR management tried to contain the damage, the chaos translated to its on-track performance. Consequently, the domination of RBR is nearing an end. At the start of the season, the two Red Bull drivers secured a 1-2 finish. However, it took only eight races to record their worst performance of the season. Monaco’s bumpy and kerb-filled track proved too challenging for the low-riding RB20. As a result, the car struggled to maintain balance, bouncing like a kangaroo and failing to perform effectively.
The three-time world champion was visibly disappointed with the result. Moreover, he was not shy about pointing fingers at the car and the technical team. On the other hand, Verstappen was criticized for a shoddy performance, as he looked completely out of control. Consequently, the Dutchman has defended his performance in Monaco by issuing a unique challenge. Verstappen believes no one could have finished in sixth spot with the car as unmanageable as RB20. When asked about his mistakes, the Dutchman quickly invited anyone from the F1 grid to drive the car faster than him. While Red Bull Racing is confident of a comeback, the increasing competition will make the path to the world title even more challenging.
Lando Norris Surprised By Red Bull’s Sudden Downfall
Lando Norris, who ended Verstappn’s Miami streak, is surprised by RBR’s recent performance. Although Norris had predicted that Red Bull would face tough competition this season, he was surprised at how early it materialized. The reigning world champions have been caught by their rivals Ferrari and McLaren.
The British driver told the media he was confident the team would be closer to Red Bull this season. However, he didn’t know it would happen so quickly. After the first quarter, Red Bull looks beatable as its domination is jeopardized.