Max Verstappen is all too aware that the classic kerbs at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve could spell trouble for his Red Bull team in this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. After grappling with challenges in Miami, Imola, and Monaco, where the RB20’s struggles with bumps and kerbs were painfully clear, Verstappen has been spending significant hours in Red Bull’s simulator to prepare.
The key to a fast lap at Gilles Villeneuve involves aggressively tackling the kerbs, especially at high-speed chicanes. Unfortunately for Red Bull, their 2024 F1 car doesn’t handle this well. The team hasn’t fully explained why, but it’s speculated that their aggressive aero developments have backed them into a corner regarding set-up compromises.
Despite these issues, the RB20 still excels on smooth tracks with high aero demands, like the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix. However, not all circuits are so forgiving. When Red Bull has to lift the car to handle bumps and kerbs, it seems to fall out of its optimal set-up window. Meanwhile, rivals like McLaren and Ferrari have made significant strides with recent upgrades.
Looking at the remainder of the season, tracks can be divided into those that will challenge Red Bull’s weaknesses and those where they should dominate. Difficult tracks include Canada, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Brazil, and Las Vegas—all demanding good low-speed performance and kerb handling. Conversely, tracks like Spain, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States, Mexico, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi should see the RB20’s aerodynamic advantage shine through.
There is a silver lining: Red Bull has the opportunity to understand and address these issues. Unlike the rapid succession of Imola and Monaco, the team now has time to tweak their car and possibly introduce upgrades, which could mitigate their kerb and bump problems.
Paul Monaghan, Red Bull’s chief engineer, shared insights on this matter: “Each circuit presents us with a set of challenges. We just have to turn up and address them better than everybody else. If we achieve our lap time a little bit differently to our nearest opposition, then fine, that is our choice, isn’t it?”
While Red Bull works on overcoming these hurdles, they’re fully aware that their rivals, McLaren and Ferrari, won’t ease up. As Monaghan notes, “The others are on us. It’s going to be a tight fight all the way.”
The upcoming races will test Red Bull’s adaptability and engineering prowess. With significant resources and talent, they have the capability to address these weaknesses and maintain their competitive edge. The battle on the track is far from over, and every race offers a fresh set of challenges and opportunities.
Source: Motorsport
