Max Verstappen started this season as a favorite to win four consecutive world titles. After dominating for nearly two years, the Dutchman was far ahead of the competition. While the credit goes to his exceptional racing skills, Red Bull’s technical supremacy also played a part. However, things have flipped upside down, as RB20 is no longer the fastest F1 car.
Consequently, it has hindered Max Verstappen’s path to his fourth consecutive Driver’s Cup. Although the gap between him and Lando Norris remains substantial, it could be quickly narrowed if the RB20 underperforms. The Dutchman shared his view after a disappointing Azerbaijan GP.
The RB20 Problem Continues To Quash Red Bull’s World Title Dream
Max Verstappen shared his frustration over his difficulties during the Azerbaijan GP, describing his car as “very difficult” to drive throughout the race. He highlighted that the issues he had noticed during qualifying continued to affect him on race day, with the car experiencing significant instability. According to Verstappen, the car was bouncing around so much that it often lost contact with the track, particularly in low-speed corners, where one wheel from each axle was frequently off the ground. This caused him to lose valuable lap time.
In addition to the cornering issues, Verstappen struggled with braking as the car continued to jump, leading to excessive sliding. He explained that this made the race even more challenging, as these problems compounded and made it difficult for him to maintain pace.
Further, Verstappen also mentioned that there was no chance of keeping the McLaren behind him, as the McLaren driver switched to medium tires for the final stint, while the RBR triple champion was left on an older set of hard tires. The tire advantage, combined with lighter fuel loads, gave the McLaren a clear edge, making Verstappen’s race all the more difficult. Despite the effort, Verstappen admitted that it was a tough and ultimately disappointing race.
How A Minor Setup Change Sabotaged Verstappen’s Azerbaijan GP
Max Verstappen reflected on the final setup change made before the Azerbaijan GP, noting that it did not yield the desired results in either qualifying or the race. He admitted that the adjustment proved a misstep, leading to a performance that fell short of expectations. Moreover, the Dutchman observed that his teammate, Sergio Perez, seemed more comfortable with the setup, highlighting their experiences’ contrast.
Despite the setback, Verstappen acknowledged that racing is a team effort. While he was dissatisfied with the car’s performance, he recognized that sometimes final adjustments are necessary to improve it. Unfortunately, this time, the changes did not bring the anticipated benefits.
