The Red Bull team has been struggling under intense pressure for months, leading to growing internal conflicts and increasing signs of strain. The team’s performance has steadily declined as they wrestle with persistent technical issues. Since their victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, they have been unable to secure another win, while teams like McLaren have been making significant progress.
Hopes were high for an improved outcome at Monza following a podium finish in Zandvoort, but the situation deteriorated further. The team’s top driver encountered significant challenges and finished in sixth place, while Sergio Perez continued his downward trend and ended up in eighth. A former Ferrari driver believes the entire havoc is due to Christian Horner’s inability to maintain peace within the squad.
Ex-Ferrari Driver Suggests Christian Horner’s Controversy Triggered Red Bull’s Downfall
Before the start of the 2024 season, Red Bull found itself mired in controversy when Team Principal Christian Horner was investigated for alleged misconduct involving a female employee. According to former Ferrari driver René Arnoux, this situation significantly affected Red Bull’s subsequent decline. Red Bull began the season on a solid note, with Max Verstappen winning races and Sergio Perez consistently competing for podium finishes. However, their dominance soon started to wane. Arnoux attributed this downturn to the turmoil brewing behind the scenes.
Moreover, Arnoux noted that the controversy surrounding Horner had destabilized the team. Even Verstappen, who is usually unaffected by off-track distractions, was reportedly unsettled by the situation. Verstappen had publicly voiced his desire for peace and stability within the team, suggesting that the lack of it was taking a toll on his performance. This unrest fueled speculation about his possible departure from Red Bull.
Difficult day, let’s aim to turn it around @redbullracing 💪 pic.twitter.com/nZm7ZTejLN
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) August 31, 2024
As for the Constructors’ Championship, Arnoux believed Ferrari and McLaren were better positioned to claim the title than Red Bull. McLaren was only eight points behind and closed the gap, while Ferrari, trailing by 37 points, still had a chance to catch up. He predicted that the fight for the championship would be intense as the season neared its end. Despite Red Bull’s recent struggles, Arnoux still saw Verstappen as the favorite to win the Drivers’ Championship.
Although Verstappen hadn’t secured a victory in the last five races, and his lead over Lando Norris had shrunk to 63 points, Arnoux believed the Dutchman was in a strong position with just eight races remaining. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that Norris still had an outside chance of claiming his first title, making the season’s final stages all the more exciting.
Helmut Marko And Jos Verstappen Share Aligned Views After Disastrous Italian GP
Helmut Marko defended Jos Verstappen’s outburst by attributing it to Verstappen’s emotional disposition. Marko acknowledged that Jos’s comments were made without a full analysis of the situation, but he suggested that these statements should not be overly emphasized. Reflecting on Red Bull’s recent performance, Marko admitted the team has not met expectations and has been delivering results below their potential.
He highlighted that Zandvoort’s setup was suboptimal, contributing to its lackluster performance. Marko recognized the team’s pressure and emphasized the need for crucial improvements, with upcoming updates expected to have a substantial effect.