Things are not going right for the Red Bull team as they hit a major blockade in Hungary. Throwback to a hot Sunday: Max Verstappen started his race from P3 and was yet again the favorite to clinch the silverware. However, the McLaren duo kept things clean and tidy, leaving no space for a divebomb.
Moreover, Max Verstappen hasn’t enjoyed the way RB20 has been behaving since the last few sessions. Thus, the frustration kept piling up, and it all lashed out after a collision with Lewis Hamilton. The Dutchman expressed his anger on the team radio and was heavily criticized for the choice of words. However, as he explained the mishap, the RBR chief had to step in to calm the situation. Now, this incident might affect Gianpiero Lambiase’s Red Bull promotion.
Lambiase Might Reconsider Red Bull Promotion After An Intense Radio Exchange With Verstappen
They need someone to step up as Jonathan Wheatley is ready to leave the Red Bull setup. Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Lambiase, is the perfect choice for the role of Sporting Director. On the Sky Sports F1 podcast, presenter Ted Kravitz discussed the future of Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s race engineer at Red Bull Racing. Kravitz speculated that Lambiase might not be eager to leave the excitement and challenges of race engineering despite the pressures that come with it, including dealing with Verstappen’s sometimes sarcastic remarks over the team radio. Fellow presenter Matt Baker mentioned these jibes, highlighting the unique dynamics between the two.
Moreover, Kravitz acknowledged that while the intense atmosphere can be taxing, the thrill of winning races and championships is rewarding. This success could make Lambiase reluctant to step away from his current role. However, Red Bull is known for promoting talent from within the team, and there are suggestions that they may split the sporting director’s role between two individuals as a replacement for Jonathan Wheatley.
One of these roles could be filled by someone from the mechanic’s team, while the other might go to someone with a deep understanding of the regulations. Lambiase is particularly significant in this context due to his integral role in Verstappen’s side of the garage. Serving as Verstappen’s race engineer since the Dutchman joined Red Bull in 2016, Lambiase has been pivotal in helping Verstappen secure three consecutive championships.
Pierre Wacche Opens Up About RB20 Issue Hindering Perez’s Performance
Pierre Wache recently discussed the challenges Sergio Perez has been facing in handling his car. Wache noted that Perez’s struggles could be linked to the car becoming more challenging to drive as it has been developed for greater speed. While Red Bull’s main objective is to create the fastest car possible, it’s also essential that the vehicle remains manageable for both drivers. Despite Max Verstappen and Perez having different driving styles, the core requirements for the car are largely the same.
Wache emphasized that while each driver may have individual preferences, Red Bull does not specifically tailor the car’s development to suit one driver over the other. Instead, the team focuses on optimizing the car’s setup to accommodate both drivers effectively. He also pointed out the challenges in accurately simulating car behavior under different conditions, which makes it difficult to consistently identify and resolve specific issues.