The F1 2024 season has not gone as expected for Red Bull, with McLaren outperforming them in recent races.
- Max Verstappen acknowledged McLaren’s superiority in the first half of the season.
- Red Bull started strong but faced tough competition from McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari.
- Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, has struggled to score consistently, impacting the team’s standings.
- With 10 races left, Red Bull aims to regroup and challenge McLaren’s newfound dominance.
Max Verstappen openly admitted that McLaren has been the standout team as the first half of the F1 2024 season concluded. Despite Red Bull’s dominant performance last year, winning 21 out of 22 races, they couldn’t maintain the same level of supremacy this year.
Red Bull began the season on a high note, winning four out of the first five races. However, in the last nine rounds, they secured only three victories, highlighting a significant challenge from McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari. McLaren, in particular, proved to be a formidable opponent with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri achieving their first F1 wins in Miami and Hungary.
The performance gap has led to a tightening in the Constructors’ standings, with Red Bull’s lead over McLaren reduced to just 42 points. Verstappen emphasized the need for Red Bull to analyze their season’s progress and make necessary improvements to compete effectively in the remaining races.
Verstappen praised McLaren’s recent performances, saying, “I think if you look at the last five, six races, they for sure have been the best. Quite clear.” He added that Red Bull needs to work on a few things over the break and try to turn the situation around as the season progresses.
Both Verstappen and Perez believe that balance is key to regaining their competitive edge. Perez acknowledged they have been “a little bit lost” lately and stressed the importance of using the break to get the balance right and analyze their upgrades.
Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Wache, mentioned that the team might have pushed the limits too far with the new RB20 car, leading to characteristics that didn’t suit the drivers. He pointed out that while the RB20 is a better car than its predecessor, there is room for improvement to maximize its potential and support the drivers better.
The second half of the season will be crucial for Red Bull as they strive to reclaim their dominance from McLaren.
Source: Planetf1
