Max Verstappen is seeing more competition from Ferrari and McLaren in the F1 2024 season, and he’s convinced that the advantage between the top teams will continue to swing.
After a dominant 2023 season with 19 victories, Verstappen was expected to stay on top this year, but the competition has heated up. Despite winning four of the first five races, Red Bull has felt the pressure as Verstappen has won only one of the last three rounds.
Lando Norris beat Verstappen in Miami, and although Verstappen managed to hold off Norris at Imola, winning by just 0.725 seconds, the Monaco Grand Prix was a struggle. Verstappen finished sixth while Charles Leclerc claimed victory for Ferrari.
These developments have narrowed the gaps in the World Championship. Verstappen now leads Leclerc by just 31 points, and Red Bull’s lead over Ferrari is only 24 points as they head into the Canadian Grand Prix, the ninth race in a record 24-race season.
Verstappen acknowledged that this season was always going to be more challenging compared to his record-breaking 2023. He pointed out the evolving dynamics between the teams and how different cars perform better under various conditions. “The cars are a lot closer. Some cars work better on street circuits, some work better in fast corners and low speed corners, so it will swing a bit,” he explained.
He also described the challenges that Red Bull’s RB20 faced during the Monaco Grand Prix, comparing the car’s performance to that of a go-kart due to its difficulty in handling bumps and kerb strikes. Looking ahead to the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen anticipates another tough race, especially with the new surface at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
“We have to wait and see,” he said. “A new surface as well, I think, – that might always give you some surprises. It’s probably also not going to be our strongest weekend because of that, but probably a little bit better than here.”
With Ferrari and McLaren closing in, the F1 2024 season is shaping up to be highly competitive. Verstappen remains focused and anticipates a season full of twists and turns.
Source: Planetf1
