Max Verstappen had a tough time with his Red Bull RB20 during the Monaco qualifying, describing its suspension as something akin to a ‘go-kart.’ Despite both drivers raising concerns, the team still leads both World Championship standings. But there’s no room for complacency, explains team principal Christian Horner.
Horner is focused on solving the team’s ride issues, especially over the kerbs, with their upcoming upgrades. He emphasized that their immediate concern is understanding why the car is struggling in this area, particularly when it didn’t have these issues last year with a different suspension setup. ‘We need to understand, is it something that we’ve introduced?’ said Horner.
Having seen McLaren and Ferrari make substantial upgrades this season, Red Bull is taking a more iterative approach. Horner indicated that the team is cautious about introducing new parts, largely due to the cost cap and the need for each new piece to prove its worth. ‘You have to be very selective of when you introduce those upgrades,’ he noted.
Red Bull has reached a point where they are experiencing the ‘law of diminishing returns’ with their current set of regulations. This means new developments have to meet very high standards to be included in the car. While they lead the championship, the team understands that the gaps are narrowing, which adds urgency to address these ride issues sooner rather than later.
Red Bull is at a critical juncture where precise and impactful upgrades are necessary to maintain their competitive edge. With the cost cap and the diminishing gains from new developments, Christian Horner and his team are meticulously planning their next steps.
Source: Planetf1
