Red Bull brought new upgrades for the RB20 to the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend, but Max Verstappen was quick to clarify that expectations should be kept in check: “I’m not expecting eight tenths of a second more pace. I hope for a small step forward, but we know the gap to McLaren remains significant,” he told the media in the paddock.
The Dutch champion was speaking after a difficult race in Miami, where McLaren’s race pace looked far superior: “In Miami, no one was in their league. It was worrying. We’ll see if the updates brought to Imola can help us find something more, but the real test will be Barcelona.”
The Spanish round will also see the introduction of the new front wing specifications, a regulatory change that could affect the competitive balance: “It won’t change things by eight tenths, but it could have a significant impact on performance,” Max Verstappen commented.
Controversy over protests: Zak Brown’s proposal and Verstappen’s reaction
In recent days, McLaren has come under scrutiny for allegedly innovative solutions in tyre temperature management, with suspicions from the paddock over potential irregularities. In response, Zak Brown made a clear proposal: “If you want to protest, go ahead. But you should pay to do it,” suggesting a protest fee to discourage baseless complaints.
Asked about the issue, Verstappen dismissed it coolly: “I’m not even thinking about it. For us, it’s a waste of time. We just need to focus on our car.”
The Dutchman concluded by saying he wants to concentrate on internal improvements within the team: “There are many things we need to work on. It makes no sense to look at others or waste energy on controversies.”
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