Red Bull, considered a dominant force since 2022, is experiencing a rare struggle. While a dream run in 2023 contributed to a remarkable victory, the team has had a tough past few weeks. The inaugural 2024 race in Bahrain seemed like a replica of the previous season. However, Ferrari and McLaren halted the team’s fairytale. These two are the only teams that have defeated the Red Bull juggernaut in the past year.
However, RBR’s internal chaos and key personnel’s departures have added to its misery. Therefore, the team seems vulnerable in the car development war as rivals are inching closer. Now, after a disappointing Monaco outing, Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko have voiced their concern over the potential down points of the RB20.
Red Bull’s ‘Fundamental Flaws’ Cause Qualifying Hurdles At Monaco
Red Bull’s second defeat in the last three races was by far its worst performance in 2024. While the reigning world champions succumbed to the pressure from Ferrari and McLaren, the team was clueless on the bumpy circuit of Monaco. The team was comprehensively outgunned as Max Verstappen managed to get sixth spot in the Monaco Grand Prix. The misery started during the first lap when Sergio Perez’s car was destroyed due to a crash. The Milton Keynes-based outfit hit trouble from the start of the weekend as, during the FP1 and FP2, Verstappen and Perez complained about the car’s poor ride. Overall, the car was slow on bumps and kerbs, and the technical team could not improve it. Moreover, the bumps and tricky kerbs with camber variations were unsuitable for a car that runs low. While RB20 has a remarkable aerodynamic setup, thanks to its ‘close to ground’ model, it was bound to suffer on a bumpy Monte Carlo circuit.
While Monaco’s fundamental strengths backfired, Dr. Helmut Marko believes the problem is more significant than it appears. The 81-year-old advisor feels there is a disparity between the simulator and the on-track performance. Further, he pointed out the issues holding back RB20 on the kerbs. On similar lines, Max Verstappen fears Red Bull might be left behind in the car development war. The Ducthman’s record-breaking ninth pole was hindered by Charles Leclerc, who went on to win the home GP. However, Verstappen claimed the car jumped like a ‘Kangaroo’ throughout the weekend. Moreover, the three-time world champion is confident that the ongoing issues are due to the technical team’s inability to understand the problem.
Who Was At Fault For Sergio Perez’s Crash?
The eventful start to the Monaco GP was a nightmare for the Red Bull team. The driver, Sergio Perez, crashed into other drivers, ending his run. While Perz had a torrid qualifying, the crash worsened his Monaco trip. The first corner on the street circuit is always tricky to negotiate, resulting in a massive crash.
Martin Brundle has commented on the massive crash, revealing the real culprit. He feels that while Perez was moving in, Kevin Magnussen should have left it. The Haas driver had a terrible run at Monaco. Brundle believes Magnussen shouldn’t have taken the risk as it wasn’t worth it.
