Red Bull team ‘not’ winning a race used to be a rare phenomenon in the last two F1 seasons. The Milton Keynes-based constructors designed an unbeatable racing machine, creating unparalleled domination. Further, a solid driver line-up in the names of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez made full use of the F1 project, winning almost every race.
However, rivals snatched RBR’s momentum midway through the 2024 season. Due to McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes’s upturn, the Austrian outfit was no longer the quickest. As a result, the team has not won a single race in its last six outings, contrasting to its hard-earned reputation. However, the team sighed with relief during the Baku FP sessions. The RB20 appeared ‘more competitive,’ and both the drivers are optimistic for a favorable outcome.
Red Bull Pair Aims To End The Winless Streak
The first and second Free Practice sessions are over, and the third is underway. The Red Bull team had a strong head start to the weekend, as both the drivers were quick. The RBR triple champion set the fastest time in FP1, followed by Hamilton and teammate Checo. However, during the second session, Perez took over Verstappen and finished 0.0006 seconds behind Charles Leclerc. Altogether, it was a decent run for the energy drink-based outfit, as the team squeezed some valuable data.
The Dutchman confidently said it was an overall “good day” for the team. He added that the team now clearly understands the setup, allowing them to analyze and refine the strategy. Moreover, Verstappen assured the team was more competitive on the Baku city circuit, which was a big positive ahead of Saturday qualifying. Furthe, talking about the track, claimed it to be slippery with plenty of 90-degree turns. Despite a decent outing, Verstappned urged the team to improve the balance after a slight tussle during his P6 finish in FP2.
On the other hand, Sergio Perez echoed similar sentiments, reaffirming that it was a good day. The Mexican acknowledged the team’s progress from FP1 to FP2 and expressed optimism that the only path forward is continued improvement. According to Checo, the team is heading in the right direction, giving themselves a fair chance to be in the mix for Qualifying. Ultimately, the 34-year-old racer wants to keep his “head down” and focus on delivering “a great couple of laps.”
Red Bull Engineer Breaks Down ‘Subtle’ Floor Upgrade As Team Aims To Move Past Monza Disaster
Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan believes the team has “licked its wounds” after a disastrous Italian GP. After a failure in Monza, Monaghan & CO revised the floor geometry for Baku. He emphasized that the team has “learned a lesson ” and is taking the right step moving forward.
Moreover, the new floor will improve the pressure gradient, which will positively affect local flow downstream. Despite the change being ‘subtle,’ Monaghan believes it would have a prominent effect. Additionally, the British engineer is determined to avoid a repeat of the Monza performance, dedicating countless hours to improve the RB20’s balance.