Max Verstappen reached Las Vegas with the ambition of sealing his fourth world title. The Dutchman only needs to finish ahead of Lando Norris to secure another WDC trophy. However, the start of his weekend was shaky as the Red Bull ran into technical trouble. The RB20 has been lackluster for a long time. Although Verstappen’s heroics in Brazil made things easy for the Bulls, the signs don’t look compelling.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen struggled In all three FP sessions, failing to leave a mark. Meanwhile, the Mercedes pair was quick to set the fastest time. Even during the qualifying session, the Silver Arrows took the charge while Verstappen had to settle with P5. The RBRtriple champion expressed disappointment after the practice.
Red Bull Battles ‘Wrong Wing’ Dilemma As Verstappen Compares RB20 to “Driving on Ice”
Max Verstappen expressed dissatisfaction after the first day of running at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, describing the experience as akin to “driving on ice.” The event, held under unusual conditions, saw very low temperatures and a lack of grip on the track. Additionally, the circuit, built around a desert environment, quickly became dirty with sand, further complicating tire performance and making it challenging to bring them up to optimal working temperatures.
This posed a significant challenge for Verstappen and Red Bull, as the slippery and cold conditions prevented drivers from extracting the car’s full potential. Compounding the issue, Red Bull brought a rear wing to Las Vegas, reportedly losing six-tenths of a second on the long straights, adding to their struggles.
Verstappen highlighted the difficulties with tire grip, explaining that despite having a balanced car, the primary issue was the lack of traction. He noted that both single-lap and long-run performance suffered, with Red Bull’s pace trailing significantly under the unique conditions. The team is now focused on understanding the underlying problems and finding solutions to improve its performance.
Sergio Perez Talks About The ‘Wrong Wing’ Conundrum
Sergio Perez reflected on the challenges Red Bull faced during the initial sessions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, emphasizing the need for significant overnight improvements. While he acknowledged that their long-run pace appeared somewhat more promising, he stressed that the team had work to do to optimize performance over a single lap. Perez highlighted that the car struggled with balance, particularly in low-speed corners, where the rear end frequently stepped out.
The team opted for reduced downforce on the rear wing, which made handling the car more challenging. Perez noted that this adjustment adversely impacted performance during qualifying simulations, underscoring the importance of making strides in this area. He expressed hope that Red Bull could identify key areas for improvement and take a step forward.
Looking ahead, Perez stressed the importance of Sunday’s race, noting that Las Vegas offers opportunities for overtaking. Ensuring competitive race pace will be critical, and the team remains focused on maximizing their potential for the main event.