Red Bull’s victory ride looks off-path after a terrible Monaco GP. While the team remains at the top of the points table, its lead steadily diminishes. Although the team is still the favorite to win the world title, Ferrari and McLaren are not much behind. Therefore, the technical team is under immense pressure to brush off the RB20 woes.
However, Sergio Perez’s crash during the opening lap of Monte Carlo could be a headache for the team. While the crash caused RBR’s poor performance on the track, it also inflicted significant financial damage. Therefore, the path ahead looks gloomy for the reigning world champions.
Red Bull’s Reign Wobbles: Monaco Crash Sparks Title Concerns
The first corner of the Monaco Street circuit witnessed a massive crash. The corner is considered tricky, and every driver is in a hurry to take over. Similarly, Sergio Perez was charging ahead when Kevin Magnussens’ Haas hit his RB20. The off-balance Perez went straight into Nico Hulkenberg, causing all three drivers to retire. While there was no injury, the RB20 was brutally damaged. The bodywork and other vital components were shattered. While it was a massive blow to Red Bull’s world title contention, the crash also affected their budget cap. The cost of this crash was nearly £2m, pushing them behind in the car development war. Subsequently, the effect of this crash would be more than the financial loss. It could transcend to dire consequences in the remaining 2024 season.
The mighty Red Bull could still bear the cost, but any other crash in the season might jeopardize its future upgrades. Consequently, the team’s advisor, Dr Helmut Marko, has voiced his skepticism for the remainder of 2024. Marko said the crash could be a huge ‘handicap’ for the team’s annual budget. Further, he feels the cost would now bar them from further developments. Ultimately, he raised concerns about Ferrari and McLaren’s increasing competitiveness. The two rivals are cutting short the gap as the season progresses. Therefore, the upcoming weeks would determine the fate of Red Bull in the current season.
Brundle Points Out The MAJOR Reason Behind Red Bull’s Misery
After a shoddy showcase at Monaco, the Red Bull team is facing criticism. While the team is confident of bouncing back, the rising competition could affect their journey. Martin Brundle has a theory to explain the dip in RBR’s performance.
The former F1 racer turned pundit feels the ‘internal situation’ at Milton Keynes is affecting the on-track performance. The past few months have been filled with chaos as the team faces internal turmoil. Brundle feels the turmoil is the biggest reason for the slump.