Red Bull, a dominant force since 2022, faces a rare challenge. While a fantastic run in 2023 helped to a spectacular triumph, the squad has endured a difficult few weeks. The first 2024 event in Bahrain appeared to be a repeat of the previous season. However, Ferrari and McLaren ended the team’s fairytale. These two are the only teams that have overcome the Red Bull juggernaut in the last year.
However, RBR’s internal instability and crucial senior losses have intensified its challenges. As a result, the team appears to be more vulnerable in the car development battle as competitors draw closer. Following a disappointing Monaco performance, Max Verstappen has expressed genuine concern about the RB20’s potential shortcomings, showing his commitment to overcoming these obstacles.
RB20’s Shortcomings Could Jeopardize Red Bull’s World Title Quest
Red Bull’s second loss in the previous three races was by far its poorest performance of 2024. While the incumbent world champions bowed to pressure from Ferrari and McLaren, the squad struggled on Monaco’s rough circuit. The squad was completely outgunned, as Max Verstappen finished sixth in the Monaco Grand Prix. The suffering began on the first lap when Sergio Perez’s vehicle was damaged in an accident. The Milton Keynes-based team ran into difficulty early in the weekend, with Verstappen and Perez complaining about the car’s poor ride during FP1 and FP2. Overall, the automobile was sluggish over bumps and kerbs, and the technical team could not enhance it. Furthermore, the bumps and difficult kerbs with camber changes were unsuited for a low-riding F1 car. While the RB20 boasts an impressive aerodynamic setup, its ‘near to ground’ design meant it was likely to struggle on the rough Monte Carlo track.
Verstappen wasn’t confident about discussing RB20’s shortcomings. He explained the car’s weird behavior on medium and high-speed corners. Further, he claimed controlling the F1 car in such conditions was unpleasant, as it bounced like a ‘kangaroo.’ He pointed out the ‘fundamental issue’ that couldn’t be fixed in a few weeks. Furthermore, the three-time world champion claims the RB20 has been suffering from these issues for a long time. However, the Monaco circuit was their worst-case scenario. Ultimately, Verstappen couldn’t finish in the top five and remained out of contention for the entire weekend. After the Sunday race, he was frustrated, claiming that the technical team was unaware of the issue, making it difficult to fix.
Christian Horner Accused Toto Wolff Of Being ‘Defeatist’
The verbal exchange with Mercedes continues while Red Bull has been under the radar. Recently, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff schooled Christian Horner over his poaching claim and advised him to work on his math. Now, after the Monaco GP, Horner replied with a unique punch.
The RBR team principal accused Mercedes of being a ‘defeatist.’ He feels the Silver Arrows are creating a strategy that shows no intent to win the world title. Therefore, it feels like Mercedes is not competing for the top spot but for a mediocre outcome. Horner believes Ferrari and McLaren are the only two threats for the team. Moreover, he feels Mercedes can’t compete with the Milton Keynes-based outfit due to its conservative approach.
