The RB19 was one of the fastest F1 prospects in 2023. This was evident in Red Bull’s performance, as they dominated the circuit. While experts believe the Austrian outfit couldn’t stretch further to develop a faster car, the Red Bull team went a step ahead and came up with the successor RB20. To everyone’s surprise, the 2024 F1 project was indeed quicker than its predecessor. Moreover, Honda, RBR’s power unit partner, hailed the engineers for their radical approach.
While the 2024 season started with a similar outcome, things got peculiar afterward. Controversies surrounded the team, and rumors of a fallout materialized. Moreover, factionalism gradually intensified, leading to a power struggle. As a result, the RBR squad, which once looked unstoppable, appears vulnerable in the car development war. With Ferrari and McLaren going all in, the threat of a world title defeat looms large. Therefore, team principal Christian Horner advises the team to step up to counter the ‘weaknesses.’
Max Verstappen Decodes The RB20 Struggle After An Underwhelming Performance
The RBR squad began the 2024 season right where it left off in 2023. The inaugural race in Bahrain witnessed a dominating run by the Red Bull pair, finishing at one-two. As a result, everyone believed that the energy drink-based team was on the right track to clinch its fourth consecutive world title. However, what once looked like a cakewalk soon turned into an ordeal. Although Red Bull sits on the top of the points table, the recent few weeks have diminished its dominance.
Moreover, rivals Ferrari and McLaren are turning the screws on the reigning world champions. Consequently, the team has lost two out of the last three races. The Miami defeat was considered a lucky break for McLaren due to the ‘safety car.’ Later, at Imola, the RB20 was not looking in the finest form as Lando Norris was always at a touching distance. However, Max Verstappen’s brilliance handed over the victory to Red Bull. Moreover, Monaco proved to be the team’s toughest challenge yet, with its bumpy, intricate curves making success nearly impossible.
Therefore, the Monaco slump cast doubts on the RB20 car. The Milton Keynes-based team had troubles early in the weekend, with Verstappen and Perez criticizing the car’s poor performance in FP1 and FP2. Overall, the automobile was sluggish over bumps and kerbs, and the technical staff could not enhance it. Furthermore, the bumps and sharp kerbs with camber variations were challenging for a low-riding F1 vehicle.
The RB20 boasts an impressive aerodynamic structure, but its low-to-the-ground design makes it vulnerable to rough Monte Carlo circuit problems. Max Verstappen said the problem is fundamental and will take time to fix. Further, the question was asked about the chassis issue to which he replied the team doesn’t ‘understand’ the exact problem. Hence, solving a problem is nearly impossible when you’re unaware of its nature. Furthermore, the three-time world champion believes several circuits could pose challenges for the team. However, he feels the team would work hard to eliminate the issues.
Christian Horner Wants The Technical Team To Tackle The Fundamental Weaknesses
On the flip side, Red Bull’s principal has prompted the engineers to investigate the team’s fundamental weaknesses. Christian Horner admitted the team needs plenty of introspection after the Monaco slump.
During the post-race duties, Horner explained the importance of Saturday qualifying on circuits like Monte Carlo. Thus, the team needs to understand the issues and improve. He further asserted that the race remained static, with each participant finishing precisely where they began. In the end, Horner wants the team to learn and move ahead.