Red Bull are conscious of their weaknesses, with the RB20 no longer enjoying the advantage it had in Bahrain. The next few rounds will be very revealing, although there are growing concerns from Milton Keynes. Helmut Marko expects Red Bull to be weak at certain circuits but is hopeful that Max Verstappen can make the difference.
Over the last two years, F1 fans have become accustomed to Max Verstappen setting the pace. Last year, he was part of a seemingly unbeatable driver-team combination as Red Bull dominated the F1 Championship.
However, this is no longer the case. Perhaps for the first time since Australia 2022, the reigning Champions are vulnerable. Ferrari and McLaren are in hot pursuit, both in the drivers and – most pressingly – in the constructors standings.
There are already concerns heading into the Canadian GP. Helmut Marko believes the Montreal circuit could see the RB20 put under significant pressure once again. Considering the bumpy surface and numerous kerbs at the Canadian track, these fears are not without foundation.
RED BULL HOPE VERSTAPPEN CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Considering the fine margins separating the front-runners, circuit-specific characteristics will be pivotal.
At the venues where RedBull are weaker, Helmut Marko is hopeful that Verstappen can make the difference:
“I believe that the Verstappen factor will be decisive even on tracks that are less favourable for us,” he told f1-insider.
“He is in top form and makes the difference. There is no other driver who can drive at the limit of every lap of the race without making mistakes.”
After eight rounds of the season, one thing is clear. Mid-season development, strategy, and individual driver performance will all play a far bigger role than last season.
The incremental details that were rendered almost obsolete by Red Bull in 2023 are now at the forefront. From the neutral perspective, this should make the remaining 16 rounds of the Championship far more exciting.
For Red Bull, however, seeing two teams legitimately matching them for pace is a concern. Their upgrades in 2024 so far have been reasonable but not as effective as those elsewhere on the grid.
There is also the issue of limited wind tunnel time and a spending budget impacted by Sergio Perez’s Monaco collision to contend with.
