The Red Bull team had a decent outing during the Dutch GP. On the other hand, McLaren flew through the circuit. Lando Norris registered a massive victory over his Dutch rival. Norris’s second career win left RBR with ample questions.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit appears vulnerable as the competition intensifies. Other teams have made considerable strides, whilst RBR appears stagnant. However, according to a Red Bull senior, the team has something up its sleeve to tackle rivals.
Helmut Marko Confirms Red Bull’s Secret Plan In Response To McLaren
During the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Max Verstappen initially took the lead, but Lando Norris ultimately claimed victory, finishing 22.8 seconds ahead—a record margin in the 2024 F1 season. As a result, Verstappen’s lead over Norris in the championship has shrunk to 70 points, with nine races remaining. McLaren is also closing in on Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing by just 30 points.
Helmut Marko, a key figure at Red Bull, has expressed concern over McLaren’s pace, acknowledging the growing need for Red Bull to respond. He admitted that the team must “find something” to regain their advantage in the title race. Marko hinted that Red Bull has plans underway to enhance the RB20 car as the World Championship battle heats up. These comments follow those of Verstappen’s father, Jos, who urged Red Bull to reassess their development of the RB20. Jos Verstappen warned that his son faces a challenging end to the season as he aims for a fourth consecutive World Championship.
Speaking to the Dutch publication De Telegraaf after the Dutch Grand Prix, Jos Verstappen voiced his concerns about Red Bull’s current situation. He suggested that the team’s need to revert to the car setup from earlier in the year clearly indicates their struggles. Verstappen Sr. emphasized that Red Bull doesn’t have things sorted out now and urged the team to take a hard look at themselves. He acknowledged that Max Verstappen knew the challenges ahead but had little chance under the current circumstances. Jos predicted that the rest of the season would be extremely difficult, noting that while Max gives his all, the car’s performance is not up to par. He also remarked that it was remarkable that Max qualified in second place, given the situation.
Christian Horner Warns Max Verstappen In The World Title Race
After the Dutch Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner addressed the media, expressing concerns about Max Verstappen’s chances of retaining his title if Lando Norris and McLaren maintain their strong performance in the remaining nine races. Horner acknowledged that if McLaren replicates their Dutch Grand Prix form in the upcoming races, it will be very challenging for Verstappen to secure the championship.
Moreover, He highlighted that this was only the fourth time this season that Verstappen’s points lead had been reduced and noted that despite Norris securing only his second win, Red Bull must find ways to improve their performance. The Briton pointed out that the team’s lead in the championship has decreased from 78 to 70 points, emphasizing the need to extend this lead rather than let it continue to diminish.
