Max Verstappen didn’t mince words after a problematic weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix. The triple world champion made it clear that Red Bull needs to step up its game and eliminate recurring issues that have been plaguing the team.
Verstappen was sidelined for most of Friday’s second free practice due to a new hybrid component issue in his Red Bull-Honda. The additional MGU-K element, which was integrated into Verstappen’s car, might result in grid penalties later in the 2024 season if the component limit is exceeded.
Despite the setback, Verstappen surprised himself by qualifying with an identical time to Mercedes’ George Russell, although the circuit was not favorable to Red Bull’s strengths. However, he emphasized that Red Bull’s recent string of problems needs to be addressed urgently, especially as rival teams are closing in.
Verstappen stated, ‘It was a nice qualifying session, but from our side we’ve had too many issues this weekend. It shouldn’t really happen. We keep a close eye on everything, as we always do, but sometimes you have periods when things don’t go well for a while and all these little problems come up. We have to try to make sure it doesn’t happen anymore. Everyone knows that and you always try to prevent it, but at the moment things are just not going so smoothly.’
Coming off a tough Monaco Grand Prix where Verstappen finished sixth due to the RB20’s poor performance on kerbs and bumps, Red Bull finds itself now in what has become a four-team competition for wins, including Ferrari and Mercedes. Russell’s pole in Montreal demonstrates Mercedes’ recent advancements.
Verstappen acknowledged Mercedes’ pace, saying, ‘Mercedes has easily been quick this weekend, so second place is actually a good result for me. We were exactly equal in Q3, but Mercedes was three tenths faster in Q2. Because of that, I think there was still a lot more in it for Mercedes, they haven’t really shown their best lap yet. I’m happy that it’s Mercedes and not Ferrari, because Ferrari is closer to us in the championship. But at the end of the day, we have to concentrate on ourselves and make things happen ourselves, because you can’t rely on the competition.’
The Dutchman’s remarks also shed light on Red Bull’s recent difficulties in fine-tuning their car setup during practice sessions. The team faced significant issues in Imola but managed to turn things around before qualifying.
‘Somehow, it is just very difficult to make our car feel very comfortable. It looks like it goes a bit easier at other teams,’ Verstappen concluded.
While Verstappen has managed to adapt to some of the RB20’s handling issues, his teammate Sergio Perez continues to struggle. Perez was eliminated in Q1 during qualifying in Canada due to poor rear grip.
Verstappen’s candid comments highlight the urgency for Red Bull to resolve their technical issues. With the competition heating up and little room for error, the pressure is on for the team to deliver cleaner and more consistent performances moving forward.
Source: Motorsport
