Red Bull’s triumph ride appears to be off track following a disastrous Monaco Grand Prix with mixed results in Canada. While the squad stays at the top of the points table, its lead gradually diminishes. Although the team remains the favorite to win the world title, Ferrari and McLaren are not far behind. As a result, the technical staff is under tremendous pressure to overcome the RB20 issues. While Max Verstappen has been a stand-out performer, he is yet to get company from Sergio Perez.
Further, Checo’s crash in Monaco had brutal consequences as the car was completely destroyed. Moreover, the Canada GP was no different, as he again collided. The collision resulted in a fine for RBR and a three-grid place penalty for Spanish GP. Thus, a former F1 champion argues the Mexican driver could handicap Red Bull’s world title dream.
Red Bull To Battle ‘One Legged’ As Checo’s Form Looks Concerning
Red Bull’s biggest concern is Sergio Perez’s recent slump. While Christian Horner and management are showing trust in him, the Mexican looks out of color. Despite the contract extension, Perez has been unable to match Verstappen’s performance. Further, he has to endure a three-grid place penalty in the upcoming Spanish GP. Therefore, Damon Hill expressed his views on the current state of Formula 1 competition, mainly focusing on Red Bull Racing and its driver lineup. Hill pointed out that both Ferrari and McLaren are in a strong position because they have two competitive drivers capable of challenging for top positions. In contrast, he suggested that Red Bull Racing is at a disadvantage with Sergio Perez, implying that Perez is not performing at the same level as his teammate, Max Verstappen.
Moreover, Hill emphasized that it is no longer sufficient for Perez to be three-tenths of a second slower than Verstappen, as the competitive field has tightened significantly. With more cars capable of closing that gap, Red Bull cannot afford to rely solely on Verstappen if they wish to maintain their dominance and defend their position in the championship. Essentially, Hill believes that Red Bull’s current situation is akin to being “one-legged,” meaning they lack the necessary support from both drivers to fend off their rivals effectively.
Helmut Marko Gives An Assessment Of Red Bull’s Young Talents
Helmut Marko analyzed the current standings and performances of several drivers in Formula 2 and Formula 3. He highlighted Isack Hadjar, who is currently second in the Formula 2 standings despite experiencing significant bad luck, including two crashes due to a fuel problem and being driven off the track by opponents in two other races. Despite these setbacks, Hadjar has performed exceptionally well, including preventing a major accident in the Monaco tunnel. Marko praised Hadjar for meeting expectations and maintaining strong form.
Further, Marko also commented on Pepe Marti, another Formula 2 driver currently in 12th place. He noted that Marti tends to put too much pressure on himself, leading to mistakes, but he sees this as a regular part of a rookie’s development. In Formula 3, Marko mentioned Arvid Lindblad, a 16-year-old Englishman who transitioned from Formula 4 and is currently fifth overall. Lindblad has been showing constant improvement and strong performance. Moreover, he also praised Tim Tramnitz for his solid performance, placing seventh overall. Lastly, Marko provided a blunt assessment of Trident driver Oliver Goethe, acknowledging his weakness in qualifying but recognizing his strength in races, where he has demonstrated impressive overtaking skills.