Max Verstappen’s weekend in Monaco didn’t go as planned, but he’s not backing down from a challenge. The reigning champion says no one on the F1 2024 grid could have driven the Red Bull RB20 faster than him.
Despite encountering a tough race in Monaco, Verstappen remains confident in his skills behind the wheel. With 49 wins out of the last 74 races and three consecutive World Championships, his record speaks for itself.
Verstappen kicked off the F1 2024 season by winning four of the first five races, giving Red Bull a commanding lead in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings. But the team’s dominance has faced challenges recently, as McLaren and Ferrari have quickly improved. Verstappen has only secured one win in the last three rounds, with Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc taking victories in Miami and Monaco, respectively.
Monaco was a rough outing for Red Bull, with Verstappen starting sixth on the grid and teammate Sergio Perez failing to reach Q3. Verstappen admitted that Red Bull’s RB20 has had a persistent weakness since the new ground effect rules were implemented in 2022, referring to the car as a ‘go-kart’ that struggled with bumps and kerb strikes.
He firmly believes no other driver could have done better with the RB20 in Monaco, stating, ‘I would be happy to invite anyone in the paddock to drive this car faster than me.’
Adding to the concerns, Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, commented on the situation, suggesting that Red Bull’s dominance might be waning. He expressed curiosity about how the team plans to solve the current issues, especially with Ferrari and McLaren closing the gap.
Jos Verstappen said, ‘For sure there will be other tracks where Red Bull will do well again, but I am very curious [to see] how they will solve these problems. They will have to do something about it, understand where certain difficulties come from. Meanwhile, it is clear that McLaren and Ferrari are getting closer and closer. Max has been good at hiding some of the problems, but you can see how big the difference is between him and his teammate. It seems to me that Red Bull’s period of dominance has come to an end.’
Max Verstappen’s confident challenge to the F1 2024 grid underscores his belief in his driving abilities despite recent setbacks. As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see if Red Bull can address their issues and maintain their lead amidst rising competition from McLaren and Ferrari.
Source: Planetf1
