The year 2023 was a magical season for Red Bull. The team won almost every race, with Max Verstappen winning 19 of them. Thus, everyone thought 2024 would be a replica of the past season. Moreover, with the ambitious F1 plan, Red Bull was certain to stretch its dominant run. Things started on the same note, with the RBR being unbeatable in the initial races.
However, things started to fall apart, and suddenly, others were able to challenge the defending champions. With every weekend, the RB20 ran into a new issue, leaving the technical crew clueless. As a result, a once-dominant team faces dormant conditions, running into oblivion. After a torpid Italian GP, the RBR was scrutinized by the F1 fans. Toto Wolff sought to make sense of the sudden downturn, asserting Verstappen to be RBR’s sole beacon of hope.
Toto Wolff Belives Max Verstappen Is Keeping Red Bull’s Hope Alive
Red Bull enjoyed unparalleled domination in the last couple of seasons, miles ahead of the competition. Further, it helped the Dutchman clinch the WDC without any resistance. Subsequently, the RBR triple champion stepped into the 2024 season, hoping to recreate Sebastian Vettle’s four-title feat. However, things took an unexpected turn as the Milton Keynes-based outfit was embroiled in controversies and internal disputes. The pressure started to crack up the squad, pulling them into a downward spiral. To make matters worse, McLaren had been rising to success ever since the RB20 hit a blockade. The Monza battle is the most recent example of the dichotomy between the two teams. While the Austrian outfit failed to enter the top five, the Woking squad clinched double podiums.
After the Italian GP, the Mercedes chief was questioned about a sudden drop in RBR’s momentum. In reply, Wolff claimed to have no insight into his rivals. However, he emphasized that the RBR squad is now the complete opposite of what it was at the start of the season. This is mainly due to technical issues that have diminished dominance. The Austrian executive praised Max Verstappen for giving his best despite a lackluster RB20 setup. Further, he feels it might not be a significant issue, and the team would soon fix it. This situation highlights the nature of F1, which almost every team faces. To reinforce his point, Wolff cited his team’s two-year slump and Ferarri’s recent difficulties in the last few races.
McLaren Or Red Bull: Wolff Picks His Favorite For The Constructors’ Cup
Although the Austrian team is in the midst of nowhere, Wolff feels they are still a ‘formidable squad.’ However, according to the Mercedes chief, McLaren is the favorite to lift the Constructors’ Cup. Wolff suggested that a team with consistently strong two drivers is never easy to defeat. The sudden resurgence of McLaren caught Red Bull off guard, as they had not expected such a strong fight back.