Red Bull Racing witnessed a great recovery in Montreal at the Canada Grand Prix compared to the Monaco GP, where Max Verstappen finished P6 and Sergio Perez crashed on turn 1. While Checo’s fortune stayed the same in Montreal, Max finally regained his winning momentum.
That being said, Max Verstappen’s drive to P1 was a bump ride as RB20 was largely unstable around the kerbs and steep chicanes. However, somehow, the Dutch driver managed to see the checkered flag first. Regardless, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has identified the primary issue of RB20 that is holding back Max.
Suspension Stiffness Main Culprit Behind Red Bull’s Struggles In Canada!
Max Verstappen had to sit the majority of the FP session out due to an energy recovery system problem with RB20, which forced him into venturing the unknown track conditions of Montreal, which, in fact, had been drenched in incessant rainfall and hailstorms. Still, Verstappen was able to secure a front-row finish in the qualifying session. However, things went downhill in the main race on Sunday as Max constantly complained about the car’s stability on the radio. Fortunately, a few mistakes from rivals and safety car advantage propelled the Dutch driver to his 60th race win. However, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull boss Christian Horner affirmed that the team had identified the main areas of concern witnessed in Montreal.
Christian Horner claimed that suspension stiffness led to balancing issues around the kerb in Montreal. Once the circuit started to dry out, they had to go quicker around the kerbs. However, the stiffness made the car extremely uncomfortable around the chicane, which eventually resulted in a loss of lap time. “I think we understand what our issues are, and it was a great recovery from Monaco a couple of weeks ago,” Horner said. The team boss added that Red Bull is constantly trying to push the aerodynamic platform of the car without compromising on the other elements. But the bottom line is that RB20 has a genuine pace. With the right modifications and minimal upgrades, the drink-based outfit should be able to regain 2023 season-like dominance. That being said, the Barcelona circuit has always suited RB, and hence, they are optimistic about a better run.
Helmut Marko Confirms Incoming Red Bull Upgrades
With rivals like McLaren, Ferrari, and even Mercedes covering up ground, Red Bull Racing has invoked a sense of urgency. Senior advisor Helmut Marko suggested that the drink-based outfit will bring in more upgrades in the upcoming race weekends to stay a step ahead of the rivals.
“The rivals have made up ground, no doubt about it, but we are not worried,” Helmut Marko said in an interview. However, after Sergio Perez’s extreme crash at the Monaco Grand Prix, Red Bull is running low on cash. Another mishap will cause the team to abandon late-season upgrades, which will reflect heavily on the constructor’s leadership as the championship race begins to heat up.
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