Amid a tumultuous season, Red Bull has ceded its reign to McLaren. During the Azerbaijan GP, the Milton Keynes-based squad had an opportunity to extend the lead. However, RB20’s technical issues and Sergio Perez’s crash toppled RBR. The RB19 is considered one of the fastest cars in F1 history. It unleashed mayhem on the track, dominating 21 out of 22 races while the competitors were mere onlookers.
However, the dominating period is the basis for Red Bull’s ongoing technological tussle. While the energy drink-based outfit enjoyed a flawless year, it overlooked an underlying issue. The issue from 2023 is now the root of multiple conundrums. Christian Horner and Helmut Marko recently explained the entire timeline of RBR’s misery.
How Max Verstappen’s 2023 Excellence Concealed Red Bull’s Technical Woes?
After a “Unicorn Season” of 2023, Red Bull had high hopes for this season. Despite a remarkable racing machine in RB19, the team chose to overhaul it and develop the RB20. The season started exactly how the team wanted, and everyone believed it would be another dominating season for the Bulls. However, things began to tear apart as the RBR chief was accused of inappropriate behavior with a famale colleague. This enraged the Red Bull personnel, who started leaving the setup. Further, rivals started to bring game-changing upgrades, and the Austrian outfit appeared vulnerable.
On teh Sunday race, Oscar Piastri ended RBR’s winning run on the Baku track. Moreover, Lando Norris’s P4 and Checo’s DNF placed the Woking squad atop the F1 Constructors standings. After a disappointing result, Christian Horner discussed the timeline of RBR’s misery with the German publication Auto Motor Und Sport. According to the Briton, the root of all the problems dates back to 2023 Spanish GP. The underbody upgrade in that race is what compromised the RB19 and, ultimately, the RB20. Horner also highlighted the floor upgrade was the exact moment when Checo started to have trouble with the car.
Moreover, RBR overlooked the issue sooner because of Max Verstappen’s excellence. The Dutchman was dominating every race, regardless of the track conditions. Even Hormer accepted this mistake, saying, “We just didn’t take it so seriously because Max kept winning.” Although the Red Bull team has now pinpointed the issue, the question remains: how long will it take to fix it?
Marko Urges Team To “Do Better” As World Title Hopes Fade
Red Bull’s senior advisor, Helmut Marko, anticipates that a solution to the technical problem may not be forthcoming until the Austin race. Talking about the Azerbaijan GP, Marko highlighted the tyre degradation, which made controlling a daunting task.
Moreover, the Austrian executive asserted the RB20 setup has immense potential, but its high sensitivity is holding it back. Thus, fixing the issue won’t be possible in Singapore, and it will take a few missteps to reach the destination. However, Marko has issued an ultimatum to the team for Austin GP, warning them that failure to resolve the issue could jeopardize their chances of winning the World Title.