The F1 development war escalated after the Imola GP as top teams flooded in new car parts. Formula One’s European season has started with a bang, with Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Aston Martin introducing a significant number of new parts. On the other hand, the Miami GP champions, McLaren, brought some circuit-specific changes to improve their grip.
While Max Verstappen’s strong performance clinched the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, his victory might leave the technical team with numerous lingering questions. The reigning champions have ‘just about’ kept themselves on top, as the pressure is building, with McLaren almost making it two victories in a row.
McLaren Inches Closer Posing Significant Challenge To Red Bull
The start of the Imola weekend was disheartening for Max Verstappen, as he failed to put on a show during the practice session. However, things were returning to normality as the Dutchman clinched a record eighth straight pole ahead of the Sunday race. With that, Verstappen equaled the legendary world record of Ayrton Senna, who bagged eight consecutive poles between 1988 and 1989. Max Verstappen received stiff competition from McLaren’s Lando Norris during the Sunday event. However, RBR brought some significant changes to RB20’s floor and nose. The technical director, Pierre Wache, described these subtle changes as ‘interesting.’ Further, they worked on the length of the top two front wings, improving downstream flow and modification in the floor edge. Consequently, all the upgrades looked futile as Lando Norris was inching towards the triumph. Thanks to Verstappen’s excellence, Red Bull was able to clinch the silverware.
Moreover, while the on-paper result showcases RBR’s dominance, the team is undeniably under pressure. Veteran Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko praised McLaren for having the upper hand throughout the showdown. Additionally, he praised Verstappen’s efforts in securing the victory, acknowledging the challenges he faced along the way. Meanwhile, the technical team is under the radar as they had a long weekend at Imola. Red Bull is always vulnerable on a ‘front-limited’ track like Imola. Thus, the RB20 struggled during the practice sessions as the constraints held it back. Consequently, the technical team was able to refine the balance and technical setup to suit the aero upgrades better. Ultimately, the tweaks helped them win the fifth Grand Prix, but the team needs to rethink the strategy as McLaren is closing in on the gap.
Max Verstappen’s Late Surge Secures Victory Over Lando Norris
Max Verstappen took another step closer to his fourth consecutive world title. However, it wasn’t easy, as Lando Norris looked fierce on the track, almost bagging his second Grand Prix. On the other hand, Verstappen, during the closing stages, held on to clinch the title.
After the race, the Dutchman accepted that he had to go ‘flat out’ to close up the gap. He explained the difficulty of driving on hard tires, as the car was almost sliding through the corners. However, the three-time world champion portrayed his composure with a strong finish.