Red Bull is in deep trouble as the team ponders unravelling the technical mysteries. Since the past few weekends, the squad has appeared vulnerable with no conviction in its developments. Thus, the RB20 seems to be in reverse gear while rivals continue to rise. As a result, Lando Norris was able to cut short Max Verstappen’s lead, while McLaren took a massive stride closer to the Constructors’ Cup.
However, the Austrian squad is struggling with internal unrest. The conundrum began in February and has affected the team’s internal dynamics. Therefore, key personnel started to leave the setup. The biggest name was Aero Wizard Adrian Newey. Furthermore, with RBR’s performance decline coinciding with Newey’s departure announcement, is there a clear link between these two events?
The Correlation Between Newey’s Departure And Red Bull Slump
Adrian Newey was integral to Red Bull’s glory days. The British engineer is a genius with over two decades of motorsport experience. However, after an internal clash with the management, Newey felt under-appreciated. Thus, he packed his bags and bid adieu to the Milton Keynes-based outfit. However, he might have accidentally packed RBR’s performance in his bag, too. As a result, since May, the defending champions have failed to counter the technical issues. Moreover, McLaren has introduced some ambitious upgrades, cutting down RBR’s lead to 30 points. Meanwhile, Verstappen, who won seven of the first ten races, has not clinched a victory since the Spanish GP. Thus, one can clearly depict a correlation between RBR’s shoddy performances and Newey’s exit.
Also, Sergio Perez claimed that Newey was more than a car designer. He provided the team with valuable insights, resulting in an improved setup. Therefore, the Bulls clearly miss the magic of the wizard. Recently, Max Verstappen was asked about the impact of Newey’s departure on RB20’s technical woes. The Dutchman had an elusive response to the question. He claimed that, usually, the impact would not be huge, but it has been difficult for the squad since his exit. However, he asserted that it shouldn’t matter if someone leaves the team, as the car has always been the same. Moreover, he understands that asking Newey about RB20’s problem would be unfair as he has shifted office. Ultimately, Verstappen somewhere believes Newey’s exit is hurting the team.
Verstappen’s Take On The World Title Race
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Red Bull faced a significant defeat at the hands of McLaren. Max Verstappen acknowledged that replicating his impressive record of 19 wins from 22 races in 2023 was unlikely. Despite this, he expressed surprise at the scale of the challenge the team now faces. Verstappen emphasized his commitment to doing his best, regardless of whether he secured the championship. He stated that winning the title would be a positive outcome, but he is not solely focused on it, given the car’s current performance. He is focused on providing feedback and helping to improve the car’s speed, although he remains uncertain if these efforts will be sufficient by the end of the season.
Moreover, he admitted that the team’s performance at Zandvoort was disappointing and acknowledged that it was a particularly poor weekend. Thus, the Dutchman also recognized that while winning more races would be ideal, achieving a season like last year’s was unrealistic. He noted that the expectations were high based on the previous year’s performance and the start of this season. Despite the challenges, the triple champion assured that the entire team is working diligently to enhance performance and address the issues affecting their competitiveness.
