The Red Bull team was a formidable force in the 2023 season. Winning 21 out of 22 races, the team thrashed its rivals and lifted both the world title trophies. The sheer domination was due to RBR’s technical mastery over one of the fastest F1 cars, RB19. The marvelous engineering masterpiece was lightning-quick on the tracks.
Therefore, no other team came close to the Austrian outfit, and the team remained unchallenged. However, within less than a year, the squad lost almost all its dominance. Moreover, McLren has emerged as the new force of F1 with its precise upgrades. But what went wrong for the Bull? It all started with a powerful RB20, which got stuck in the development loop due to a narrow operating window. Therefore, an ex-Ferrrai racer has explained the reason behind the fall of RBR.
Did Red Bull Falter Its Development Plans? Rob Medley Explains
The reigning World Champions, Red Bull Racing, face significant challenges in their development efforts. The car became difficult to handle after introducing a new floor at the Hungarian Grand Prix, even for Max Verstappen. This change led Verstappen to express his concerns about the team’s performance, noting the drastic shift from a dominant car to one that feels nearly undrivable in just six to eight months. He emphasized the need for a major overhaul to improve the car’s drivability.
Rob Medley, a former engineer with Ferrari and Williams, suggested that the recent struggles of Red Bull may stem from both the drivers and the team pushing harder, which has brought to light various weaknesses in the car. On the Formula For Success podcast, Medley described Red Bull as one of the biggest enigmas of the current season. He pointed out that the team no longer has the clear speed advantage it once enjoyed.
Reflecting on the season’s early expectations, he recalled a time when many believed Verstappen would easily secure the 2024 World Championship, especially after a strong winter testing phase. However, Medley noted that since then, Red Bull has not developed the car as quickly as expected, resulting in a less comfortable driving experience than the previous year’s model. He questioned whether the team’s difficulties are due to losing their previous performance edge, leading the drivers and engineers to push the car harder and reveal its flaws, or if the team simply hasn’t focused on necessary developments. Regardless of the reasons, he concluded that the team’s overall strength and coherence have noticeably diminished compared to past seasons.
Sergio Perez’s Slump: Red Bull Under Pressure With No Signs Of Resurgence
Rob Medley emphasized the importance of Sergio Pérez’s role within the Red Bull team, suggesting that he needs to step up his contributions for the team’s benefit. Perez currently finds himself in eighth place in the Drivers’ Championship standings and has yet to secure a win this season. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen continues to lead the championship, but his advantage has shrunk to 52 points over Lando Norris after a series of eight races without a victory.
Medley referenced the idea of “doing the patsy,” indicating that Pérez must take on a supportive role to help bolster the team’s overall performance. This situation highlights Perez’s pressure to improve his results, particularly as Verstappen remains the team’s primary focus. The dynamics between the two drivers and their contributions to Red Bull’s success will be closely scrutinized as the season progresses.