The Red Bull team has set a bar so high that others are still struggling to reach there. Since the 2021 season, the Milton Keynes-based outfit has been unstoppable, winning almost every other race. This stark contrast in performance is evident in the 2023 season, which was a ‘unicorn phase’ for the team as they won 21 races out of 22. Their sheer domination saw them winning three consecutive world titles while other teams were left in their wake.
Although the RBR squad began its 2024 campaign with similar energy, it was soon tackled by the others. As internal chaos grew louder, it affected the team’s on-track performance. Consequently, the reigning world champion appeared vulnerable, facing consistent challenges. Further, the internal mayhem, partnered up with Sergio Pererz’s recent performances, gives an outside chance to McLaren to overtake RBR in the world title race.
McLaren’s World Title Hope Hinges On Perez As Verstappen Continues To Shine
As the season progressed, Sergio Perez returned to his past shortcomings. Since he started racing, his career graph has been identical throughout the seasons. The Mexican starts off well, finishing every race in the top spots until mid-season when he hits a blockade, and the graph goes negative. This has been the plot of his story every season. Although Max Verstappen is the top driver for Red Bull, the team wants both drivers to score points. While Verstappen seems likely to secure the Drivers’ World Title, the race for the Constructors’ Title is still ongoing. Therefore, McLaren CEO Zak Brown keenly observes every development as competition intensifies. Speaking to media houses, Brown affirmed Verstappen will finish in the top three spots every weekend. Further, he claimed the Dutchman would continue to thrive, winning more races than any other driver.
However, Brown believes Perez is underperforming, which opened the window for the McLaren team to target the Constructors World Title. Moreover, he highlighted the team’s collective efforts in the past six races. Thus, he wants them to maintain their performance throughout the season, as it will surely pave the way to the World Title.
Furthermore, the American billionaire emphasized Andrea Stella’s importance to the team. He then explained Stella’s strategy, as the team principal focuses on the present rather than getting carried away. Thus, the team stays determined every single weekend. Ultimately, Brown claimed that winning the title was not the team’s primary motivation. It is more about improving every session and bringing the best out of themselves.
Red Bull Technical Director Outlines Strategy After Analyzing Current Competition
Red Bull’s Technical Head, Pierre Wache, admitted that the team did not expect their rivals to catch up this quickly. Further, he said the teams were way behind at the beginning of the season, and suddenly, they’re closing in. Thus, he appreciated McLaren’s developments and Mercedes’s recent work.
However, Wacche is determined to improve the RB20 as the chasing packs get closer in the rearview mirror. It’s high time the team brought in some key upgrades to extend the lead further. McLaren is just 78 points behind the Bulls, and both of their drives are scoring consistently.