Since May, Grand Prix weekends have been full of excitement and expectation. Until the Miami Grand Prix, Max Verstappen held a set position in P1, while others had to play a game of musical chairs for positions 2 and 3. However, things have changed since McLaren’s Lando Norris won his first Grand Prix in Florida. The Red Bull ride has encountered an impediment, while internal disarray exacerbates the situation.
After a painful setback in Miami, Verstappen’s performance secured the deal for the team on a difficult Imola track. However, the incumbent champion was derailed by the Monaco street circuit, where he failed to finish in the top positions. Thus, the advancement of rivals has heightened RBR’s concerns since McLaren and Ferrari are visible in the rear-view mirror. Furthermore, the Mercedes resurgence in the Canadian Grand Prix would provide another rival for the top slot. Therefore, Max Verstappen remains uncertain of re-inventing the RBR domination.
Max Verstappen Feels Rivals Will Hinder Red Bull’s Domination
Although the Milton Keynes-based team leads significantly, the chasing groups are closer than ever. As a result, teams such as McLaren and Ferrari have dreamed of taking the throne, which now belongs to the Austrian setup. However, the following teams are concerned as the F1 arena returns to a more traditional track in Barcelona. The RB20 struggled with bumps and kerbs on street circuits, but rivals feel they will excel on the Barcelona track. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a conventional track with all sorts of corners. Thus, every F1 expert felt the RB20 would run quicker on a more traditional track due to its low-riding tendency.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Max Verstappen feels otherwise. The three-time world champion opened up about the upcoming ventures. Although he admitted the team is excited to return to an orthodox circuit, it might get a tough fight from the chasing packs. Further, he claimed reasserting similar domination at the beginning of the season won’t be possible. Moreover, the Dutchman highlighted the intense car development war where rivals were catching up. Conjointly, he professed the team is not under pressure but understands the importance of having a good weekend as the competition rises. Ultimately, he pointed out the problems at Friday practice sessions, as starting the weekend clean is essential.
Spanish GP Will Be A Litmus Test For The Top Teams
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya offers a range of high, medium, and low-speed curves that can reveal every detail of an F1 vehicle. Furthermore, dry weather and track expertise make optimizing the car critical for F1 teams.
A former Formula One strategist, Bernie Collins, discussed the track with SkySports. He said the circuit would be a litmus test for McLaren and Ferrari’s improvements. It will also determine whether Red Bull has slipped. Finally, the roaring bulls would be thrilled to compete on a standard track that accommodates the low-riding RB20.