The Red Bull team has reached the nadir of its car development with nowhere to go. Persistent technical woes and internal issues have derailed the dominant Milton Keynes-based outfit. Altogether, the team appears vulnerable, ceding the top spot to McLaren. To make matters worse, key personnel like Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, and Will Courtenay have left the setup dangling amid the fire.
Despite recent setbacks, RBR is gearing up to defend its world titles. According to a report by RacingNews365.com, the Austrian outfit is working on a season-defining upgrade. Although the upgrade might not solve the fundamental issues, it’ll definitely give them an edge. While RBR is dreaming of a solid comeback, Guenther Steiner feels otherwise. The former F1 boss is confident that the defending champions won’t be able to catch McLaren this season.
The Last Resort: Red Bull’s Title Hopes Rest On New Floor Upgrade
The Red Bull technical team, led by Pierre Wacche, is all set to introduce a new floor upgrade in Austin. This package is considered a game-changer in the context of the world title. Moreover, given the limited time between Singapore and the U.S. GP, the technical crew could only tweak some minor components. The effect of this change could only be calculated after receiving feedback from both drivers. However, all this hard work is in the hope of reducing the 41-point McLaren lead on Constructor’s Standings. Thus, the three-week autumn break could help the Bulls to point out the errors and fix them before the triple header starts in Austin.
However, Guenther Steiner feels the break wouldn’t help the team. During his recent appearance on the Red Flags Podcast, Steiner revealed that every team creates a plan beforehand, and such breaks are of no advantage. This statement implied that RBR’s Austin upgrade was already developed, and the short break had no role. Although he accepted, a brief pause could aid in preparation; a team like RBR doesn’t depend on such cusps. Further, Steiner believes the only question is “how big the new upgrade is,” and the rest is already understood. Thus, this upgrade could decide the fate of the Austrian outfit, as it is their only chance to overtake McLaren.
How Ferrari Could Shape The Outcome Of The World Title
While RBR’s Constructor’s Cup hopes hinge on the floor upgrade, Steiner feels they can’t catch the Papaya squad this season. The Italian F1 expert emphasized McLaren’s amazing Singapore performance.
Meanwhile, Ferrari could create a buffer zone for McLare by keeping Max Verstappen away from the podium. Steiner opened up about the Maranello squad’s importance in the World Title run. If the situation is in Ferrari’s favor, unlike Singapore, they could spoil Red Bull’s plan and help McLaren. Ultimately, he asserted that Max Verstappen won’t give up and he will continue to fight for the trophy.