Formula 1 series champions Red Bull Racing are facing unexpected challenges on the track, despite their strong position in the championship standings.
Something’s not quite right with Red Bull Racing. Max Verstappen started the season strong, clinching victory after victory, but the last three races have been a different story. He’s been fighting hard for every inch, leaving many to wonder what’s going on.
Helmut Marko, during a press conference in Graz, Austria, suggested two main reasons for the recent slump. The Monaco Grand Prix, known for its unpredictability, highlighted issues with the RB20. Verstappen could only manage a sixth-place finish, his worst since the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, while his teammate Sergio Perez crashed out on the first lap.
Jos Verstappen criticized Red Bull’s performance in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, saying, ‘The time when Red Bull had the dominant car really seems to be over now. Maybe they should concentrate a little bit more on racing and communicating with each other instead of other things.’ The suspension problems with the RB20 were particularly troublesome on the street circuit of Monaco, affecting the car’s performance significantly.
Max Verstappen expressed similar concerns, describing the suspension issues as a long-term problem masked by their previously significant car advantage. ‘It’s like I’m driving without suspension,’ he said. ‘The car is bouncing around a lot, not absorbing kerbs, bumps, or camber changes. We’ve had this problem since 2022. For the last two years, our car advantage has masked it. But now that everyone is catching up, our weaknesses are being exposed.’ He added that this is a ‘fundamental problem’ that ‘cannot be fixed in a few weeks.’
Helmut Marko echoed these sentiments, noting that the competition has caught up, and teams like McLaren and Ferrari are making better copies of the car. He also identified issues with their simulator, where both drivers felt the car handled well before finding it ‘undriveable’ on the track.
Verstappen acknowledged that each race’s challenges have varied. In Miami, the balance and possibly the tires were off. At Imola, they managed to turn things around but struggled especially with the hard tires. However, in Monaco, everyone catching up, combined with the unique challenges of the track, made it one of their toughest weekends.
Jos Verstappen stressed the urgency for Red Bull to address these issues to avoid further defeats. ‘There will definitely be races where Red Bull will be in good shape again, but I am very curious to see how they are going to solve this. Something really needs to happen,’ he said. ‘Red Bull needs to find out where this problem is coming from, because it is clear that teams like Ferrari and McLaren are getting closer.’
Interestingly, Marko also suggested that changes to the Monaco race itself could help. He proposed adjustments to the track or pit stop strategies, such as requiring two stops to use all three sets of tires, to make the race more exciting.
Red Bull Racing faces a crucial period ahead as they work to identify and address their car’s fundamental issues. With competition catching up fast, the stakes have never been higher for the reigning champions.
