Breaking: Major Red Bull ERROR to blame for Las Vegas Grand Prix disas…read more
Major Red Bull ERROR to blame for Las Vegas Grand Prix disas…read more
Red Bull Racing faced a rocky start to the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, plagued by a significant setup misstep. Both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez found themselves at the lower end of the timesheets after Thursday’s nighttime practice sessions. Verstappen, the reigning world champion, ended FP2 in 17th place, while Perez fared even worse in 19th.
A partial explanation for Verstappen’s underwhelming performance lies in his decision not to run the soft tyres during the second session. However, even beyond tyre choice, Verstappen expressed frustration with the overall lack of grip on the newly introduced Las Vegas circuit. “The track conditions aren’t ideal, and our one-lap pace just isn’t matching the others,” he remarked after practice.
Rear Wing Miscalculation Compounds Issues
One of the main factors hampering Red Bull’s performance is their choice of rear wing for the high-speed Vegas circuit. Unlike rivals such as Ferrari and McLaren, who opted for low-drag configurations tailored to the track’s long straights, Red Bull’s wing setup created a disadvantage in straight-line speed. This oversight has proven costly, with little room for a quick fix.
Team advisor Helmut Marko confirmed the issue, stating, “We don’t have a smaller rear wing here like our competitors. It would undoubtedly help us.” When asked if flying in an alternative rear wing overnight was possible, Marko dismissed the idea, responding flatly, “No.”
The absence of a more suitable rear wing means Red Bull will need to rely on other adjustments to improve their performance before the race.
Optimism Amid Adversity
Despite the setback, Marko remained hopeful about the team’s ability to recover. “Tomorrow is a different day,” he said. “You’ve seen it many times before—teams might look strong early in the weekend, but that doesn’t always translate to race day. We’ll definitely make a reasonable step forward.”
The Las Vegas Grand Prix, a new addition to the F1 calendar, presents unique challenges with its night-time setting, cooler temperatures, and unfamiliar layout. While Red Bull’s struggles are unusual given their dominant season, the team is no stranger to overcoming adversity.
Whether Red Bull can salvage their weekend and mount a challenge on Sunday remains to be seen. However, for now, the focus will be on adapting their strategy to mitigate the disadvantages posed by their rear wing configuration and lack of grip.
About The Author
