The Red Bul team has been caught in a downward spiral, losing all its dominance. The Milton Keynes-based outfit has had a tumultuous season with burning internal conflicts and cold on-track performances. Further, the defending champions are on the verge of losing the world title. With six rounds to go, the Bulls need some magic to turn things around. As of now, the table-topper McLaren is leading by 41 points. Given the underperforming RB20, narrowing the lead would be a daunting task.
On the other hand, McLaren’s Lando Norris is surging to dethrone Max Verstappen. The Woking squad has been precise with its upgrades. Thus, the MCL38 appears to be the fastest car. Therefore, the buffer Verstappen created during the early season might not be enough to defend his trophy. This fear of losing both titles was reflected during Helmut Marko’s post-Singapore GP media interaction. The senior RBR advisor also discussed some critical topics like the aging wind tunnel and the impact of Adrian Newey’s departure.
What Is Troubling Red Bull– Adrian Newey’s Absence Or The Aging Wind Tunnel?
Max Verstappen was finished second during the Singapore GP. On the other hand, Sergio Perez narrowly squeezed himself into the top ten. Helmut Marko gave a blunt assessment of the Marina Bay race after a mixed result. In his view, the Dutchman’s second-place finish was nothing short of a victory, given the current circumstances. He further acknowledged that Verstappen’s primary goal in Singapore was damage control. He also noted that Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was quicker than Verstappen in the race’s final moments. Thus, the RBR starlet had a risk of slipping to third, but he portrayed his excellence.
Moreover, the Austrian executive explained an interesting scenario regarding the championship. Even if Lando Norris wins every race, Verstappen could still defend his title by finishing second. Thanks to Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull avoided ceding the fastest lap point to McLaren. However, Marko stated simply finishing second won’t be enough for Red Bull, as McLaren is at the top of its game. The Woking-based squad is currently unstoppable, and if RBR hopes to capitalize on any chance of winning, it must step up.
Marko downplayed the speculation when asked about the coincidence of Newey’s exit with RBR’s slump. Although he believes Newey’s departure will undoubtedly be a significant change, the Bulls have a broad and talented team to navigate the transition smoothly. However, he admitted that the aging wind tunnel facilities have been a shortcoming, especially compared to teams like McLaren, which have a modern structure.
How Red Bull’s Aging Wind Tunnel Is Undermining Their Dominance
According to Marko, Red Bull’s wind tunnel, built shortly after World War II, is outdated and takes much longer to achieve optimal testing conditions. He expressed hope that by 2026, when their new wind tunnel becomes operational, the team will be able to address these issues and regain their competitive edge.
In Marko’s view, while Verstappen’s performance in Singapore was commendable, Red Bull will need to address technical challenges and stiff competition if it is to maintain its place at the top of the Formula 1 field.