Max Verstappen warns that Red Bull could face difficulties this weekend in Canada. The reigning World Champion is aware of the RB20’s vulnerabilities, which could be exposed once again at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Whilst Verstappen will undoubtedly be a factor, he admits there are question marks surrounding his team.
The Monaco GP was obviously not the most exhilarating race, but it was significant for the Championship. Not only did Ferrari claim a 1-3 finish, followed by McLaren’s 2-4 result, but Red Bull were lacking pace throughout the weekend.
Verstappen complained about set-up from the start of Friday Practice. His teammate Sergio Perez did not fare much better. The RB20 is not well-suited to riding kerbs, a fact that has been exposed by a more competitive field. There is no shortage of kerbs in Canada.
Combining this lack of pace with Red Bull’s hefty damage costs, it is clear the Milton Keynes squad is on the back foot.
Speaking to the media, Verstappen has admitted it will not be an easy weekend:
“We have to wait and see, [there is a] new surface as well. I think that might always give you some surprises,” racingnews365 quotes him as saying.
“But it’s probably also not going to be our strongest weekend because of that. But probably a little bit better than here [in Monaco].”
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 25: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 25, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202405250484 // Usage for editorial use only //
ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED FROM RED BULL
The Dutchman echoes a similar sentiment to Helmut Marko, who also anticipates a tricky weekend in Canada.
Heading into the ninth round of the season, there are plenty of unknowns in the F1 paddock. For Red Bull, their off-track activities are almost as anticipated as their on-track performance.
A new contract for Sergio Perez is expected to be announced, with the Austrian team opting against promoting either Tsunoda or Ricciardo. Regardless of the contentious nature of this anticipated extension, the next few months should reveal if Red Bull have made the correct choice.
Six rounds remain before the summer break. By the time these races are completed, the drivers’ and constructors’ standings will undoubtedly have evolved.
For Red Bull’s sake, the hope is that Ferrari and McLaren’s momentum will have stalled by then. Of course, at this stage, there are no indications of this happening.
