Not everything is lost for Red Bull. In F1, the winner is the one who scores the most points by the end of the championship. This 11-word cliché serves to emphasize a fact: at least regarding the drivers’ standings, Max Verstappen is achieving excellent results, especially considering what he’s been driving lately. At the Miami Grand Prix, Lando Norris won, a scenario in which the super upgrade package debuted, making the MCL38 the best car in the field. At that point in the championship, the gap between Lando and Max was 53 points, and now it’s 52.
This means that, in twelve rounds of the 2024 F1 championship, despite McLaren having a technically superior car to Red Bull, Lando Norris has only gained one point on Verstappen. Without a doubt, many of the shortcomings must be attributed to the Woking team, which often failed to maximize its potential and results due to various errors. At the same time, great praise must be given to the talent from Hasselt, who never gave up and optimized the performance of his R20. This aspect cannot be overlooked and “explains” who Max is.
The three-time F1 world champion is far from happy with his team. He knows well that the work done in recent months is insufficient. Besides the usual radio complaints, we’ve been told that the championship leader’s “protests” have filled several briefings throughout the season, both at the track and in the factory. But on the other hand, it couldn’t be otherwise, because a driver of his caliber doesn’t accept “defensive scenarios” where the only mission is to cover your back. Max is only interested in winning, which is why his relationship with his team is no longer idyllic.
This concept brings to mind something we discussed a few weeks ago. We’re referring to Aston Martin’s relentless pursuit of Max Verstappen, as they are trying to convince Max to switch teams from 2026. This move would allow him to reunite with his “old” partner in crime, Adrian Newey, and once again form a duo that could bring success to the British team. The approach has already happened, and it’s clear that, in this context, Red Bull plays a decisive role in retaining the Dutchman by offering him the right guarantees. We’ll see.
F1, Red Bull increases technical understanding of the RB20
Max has always been the type who doesn’t hold back. He has the “good habit” of calling things by their name, without any unnecessary politeness, ignoring the sweet and pointless practice of political correctness. For this reason, he tells off those who deserve it and doesn’t hesitate to use the right word to describe inappropriate behavior. The same goes when he comments on his car, the work done, or a particular situation he finds himself in. The FIA wants to protect its image, so they fine him and force him to do “community service,” as if such a measure could change him in the slightest.
We mention this because Max’s now-famous radio complaints, peppered with “colorful language,” are plentiful. It’s a sort of vent that Max Verstappen uses to blow off steam. It’s not our place to judge his actions, nor the FIA’s. However, as “on-board eavesdroppers,” we can comment on the headaches that have been affecting the RB20 lately. We’re talking about a clear difficulty in producing mechanical grip at low speeds, as the suspension settings are never easy to adjust. The same goes for tire warm-up.
This all comes down to a very narrow setup window, which complicates the work on track for both drivers and engineers. Red Bull wasn’t used to working within certain suspension ranges, and because of this, they’ve recently carried out a detailed study on this topic. The goal was to understand how to make the car perform well in all conditions. Monza, Baku, and Singapore: three tracks that are undoubtedly peculiar for their characteristics, where it was easier to find solutions to the problems (less so in Azerbaijan).
For this reason, Austin will be crucial in understanding how the situation will evolve in this final part of the championship. The United States Grand Prix will see Red Bull bring a significant upgrade package, a move that, based on estimates, should provide a fruitful quality leap for the RB20. Horner has been clear about this: the British team principal maintains that the approach they’ve been using lately is working, and as we reported last Saturday, Red Bull now seems capable of overhauling the setup to resolve a technically ineffective context.
Increasing the understanding of the blue racing car was the target, awaiting the upcoming updates. This approach worked perfectly in Singapore, where Verstappen found the competitiveness needed to once again limit the damage and secure an excellent second-place finish. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. According to reports, the package includes a further reshaping of the floor. By now, after almost three seasons with the current regulations, we are well aware of the importance of this major component in the car’s performance.
At the same time, we’ve seen several missteps with this very element, where even Red Bull made some mistakes. The same happened to Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. That’s why the team, now technically led by Pierre Waché, has taken the necessary time to study the context in every detail. Another mistake with the updates would be fatal for the remainder of the championship, where the Austrian team must continue to defend its lead in the drivers’ standings. As for the constructors’ championship, they seem much more resigned…
Leave a Reply