The 2024 season has been challenging for Red Bull’s racing team. While the team maintains a significant lead, the recent Miami GP highlighted that rivals are closing in. The Austrian outfit is embroiled in controversy as internal turmoil grips its management. Since the infamous controversy surrounding team boss Christian Horner, things are ‘not well’ at Milton Keynes.
The internal unrest within Red Bull is not only a matter of management but also affects their on-track performance. This was evident during the recent Miami GP, where Max Verstappen’s winning streak was halted. Despite finishing at P2, the team is reflecting on its performance and considering the mistakes made. As a result, it is preparing to deploy the second upgrade package of the season ahead of the Imola showdown. This move underscores its commitment to maintaining its lead and refusal to be overtaken by its rivals.
The Transition From RB19 To RB20 Has Been Miraculous
In the 2023 season, Red Bull stormed through the F1 paddock, winning 22 out of 23 races. While their drivers look flawless throughout the season, the RB19 project was among the reasons for their domination. Moreover, RB19 was considered one of the fastest F1 cars ever. Thus, moving into 2024, people believed RBR couldn’t surpass their masterpiece. However, to everyone’s surprise, the engineers and designers at Milton Keynes made a powerful successor of RB19. Hence, the latest RB20 project was flexing muscles during the start of the season. The duo of Max Verstappen and RBR has won four out of six races already. Nevertheless, the constant development showcased by McLaren and Ferrari are signs of concern for RBR. As expected, the champion team has responded by introducing the second upgrade package of the season.
While their first upgrade package in Japan was successful, it helped them gain two-tenths per lap, according to Helmut Marko. As a result, Verstappen clinched the fourth silverware. However, the Ferrari and McLaren squad were within the touching range. Moreover, with Lando Norris’ empathic victory at Miami GP, the engineers at Milton Keynes are under pressure to regain momentum. Therefore, according to a German outlet, AMuS, the Milton Keynes-based outfit replaced some parts. However, consistently innovating something new can be challenging for a team already enjoying such a significant advantage. At the same time, it allows learning from the table toppers and cut short the gap. Furthermore, under the leadership of Pierre Wache, the technical team is determined not to make excuses and instead capitalize on even minor improvements.
Competition Rises As McLaren And Ferrari Gear Up For The Weekend
On the other hand, rival Ferrari and McLaren are also gearing up for the challenge. McLaren introduced some changes before the Miami GP. Moreover, the changes helped them unlock four-tenths of performance, resulting in Norris’ victory. Additionally, Oscar Piastri, who was not driving the upgraded MCL38, consistently maintained a position ahead of Perez and remained within touching distance of Verstappen for much of the race.
As the F1 reaches Italian soil, the home team tests the upgrades ahead of the mega weekend. The SF-24 project received two filming sessions that helped the technical team work on the flaws. Hence, the upcoming Emilia Romagna GP promises to showcase fierce competition among these three contenders, heightening the excitement.