The mighty Red Bull camp is in all sorts of worries after a humbling defeat by McLaren. The Austrian constructors have a long list of doubts, primarily regarding RB20. Since the Miami GP, the car has underperformed, piercing RBR’s title defense. On the other hand, McLaren is on a charge with a more advanced vehicle and two solid drivers.
However, Max Verstappen is still a favorite to win the WDC, with an unassailable 70-point lead over Lando Norris. Perhaps the young British racer has an outside chance to clinch his maiden world title. It all boils down to RB20’s performance in the upcoming races. Currently, the Dutchman feels something severely off about the car’s setup is hindering the performance.
Max Verstappen Faces A Barrage Of Tough Questions Amid Red Bull Slump
Red Bull’s racing machine hit a blockade in May during the Monaco GP. The low-ridding vehicle had trouble gliding through kerbs and bumps in the Monte Carlo circuit. As a result, Verstappen was heard complaining about the ‘excessive bouncing’ and comparing it to a kangaroo. While the fans accepted this issue as fixed, it got worse with time. Things went downhill so rapidly that the technical crew appeared clueless. Consequently, the team had to reinstate an old setup, hoping for a favourable result. Meanwhile, the RBR starlet has been closely observing the entire fiasco, giving his absolute best on the tracks.
Further, the Dutchman faced a challenging race at Zandvoort, where his struggles with the RB20 became more apparent. After finishing 22 seconds behind Lando Norris, Verstappen acknowledged that something had changed in the car, making it more difficult to drive compared to the beginning of the season. This issue has started to impact both their one-lap and long-run performance, leading to increased tyre degradation. Throughout the weekend, Verstappen experienced consistent limitations, struggling with the car’s balance from the first practice session to the race. Despite his efforts to manage the tyres and maintain pace, the car’s responsiveness diminished, allowing Norris to close in and eventually pass him. Moreover, he recognized the need to address these underlying problems quickly, as they have affected Red Bull’s competitiveness and consistency.
During the race, Verstappen initially managed to hold off Norris but soon found his car unresponsive, making it impossible to defend his position. Once Norris overtook him, Verstappen shifted his focus to securing second place, aware that the car’s issues would prevent him from challenging for the win. The Dutchman emphasized the urgency of solving these problems to regain their competitive edge.
Was Adrian Newey’s Departure A Harbinger For Red Bull?
When questioned about whether the team’s recent struggles coincided with Adrian Newey’s departure, Max Verstappen offered his perspective. He acknowledged that while it has become more challenging since Newey’s exit was announced, there shouldn’t be an immediate drop in performance simply because a key figure is leaving. Moreover, th 26-year-old Dutch emphasized that the car’s performance should remain consistent, despite changes.
