WHY MAX VERSTAPPEN THINKS THE WORST IS NOW….. see more

Verstappen’s Dominance in Bahrain Sets Expectations for 2024

When Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in Bahrain with a staggering 22-second lead, the paddock consensus was that the 2024 Formula 1 season would mirror the dominance of the past two years. A British reporter humorously remarked, “Can’t we just play the Wilhelmus 24 times and come back next year?” However, half a year later, the reality is starkly different. Red Bull Racing, caught off-guard by development setbacks with the RB20, now finds itself trailing the competition, particularly a resurgent McLaren. Red Bull’s decline has happened far quicker than anyone anticipated.

Verstappen Sensed Trouble Early On

Verstappen admitted he wasn’t surprised by how quickly Red Bull got overtaken. “Yes, I felt it early, but when you consider our issues, it makes sense,” he explained. “At a certain point, things weren’t heading in the right direction for us. The other teams haven’t faced our specific challenges or they’ve simply developed in a different direction.” While many saw the turning point around the Imola and Miami race weekends—where Verstappen won comfortably in Japan and China—the Dutchman sensed trouble much earlier. “The car’s balance felt different from last year. Initially, we could still compensate because the other teams weren’t as strong, but the issues became more pronounced over time.”

Concept Changes and Balance Issues

Verstappen noted that the car’s handling issues could be traced back to a change in concept. At the car’s launch in Milton Keynes, he mentioned his initial reaction was, “Wow, this is very different.” While the concept change raised questions, Verstappen clarified that it wasn’t a mistake from an external perspective. “The problem isn’t in the car’s appearance. It’s something more complex underneath, probably related to the floor.”

Red Bull’s Struggles and the Role of the Wind Tunnel

Verstappen pointed out that Red Bull’s problems are largely hidden beneath the surface, especially in the floor—a critical area for teams under the current regulations. Other teams like Mercedes and Ferrari have faced similar issues with ground-effect cars. McLaren, meanwhile, has managed to avoid most of these pitfalls so far. The challenges have been further compounded by Red Bull’s aging wind tunnel, which has struggled to provide accurate data for track performance. “Our wind tunnel is outdated, but it worked fine until this year,” Verstappen stated. “The difficulty lies in fine-tuning things perfectly and getting reliable data. That’s been a problem for many teams, even with modern wind tunnels.”

Finding Solutions: Red Bull’s Road to Recovery

Red Bull is now focused on gradual improvements. Verstappen believes the team began its recovery with a floor update in Baku. While his own setup in Azerbaijan wasn’t optimal, teammate Sergio Pérez was in contention for a podium before his crash. Verstappen then managed a podium finish in Singapore—a track that has historically challenged Red Bull. “The Baku update was already a good step for us. It was subtle, but it put us on the right path,” he shared. “Turning things around takes time, but I think the team was encouraged by what they saw.”

Eyes on Austin: Red Bull’s Next Big Test

Despite the progress, Red Bull’s gains haven’t been enough to challenge McLaren and Lando Norris consistently. A new update package is set to debut in Austin, but its impact remains uncertain. Verstappen considers Monza—where he and Pérez finished sixth and eighth—as the low point of the season. “I think Monza was our worst race this year. Hopefully, we can make good progress from now on,” he concluded optimistically.