The Italian Grand Prix was not a cakewalk for Red Bull last month. The Austrian team had approached the race with optimism, thinking their problems with the kerbs more or less resolved. However, it was with a sixth place for Max Verstappen and an eighth position for Sergio Pérez that the red bull finished the Monza event.
Following this Grand Prix, the Dutch driver declared that Red Bull had transformed its “monster dominating single-seater“, also considering the two world titles threatened. At the moment, McLaren has in fact moved ahead in the constructors’ standings and seems well on course to win. On the drivers’ side, Verstappen maintains a certain lead of 52 points over Lando Norris at six rounds of the end of the season.
Despite the concern shown by Red Bull after Monza, the last two Grands Prix did not go so badly for the Austrian team. In Baku, although a little behind Ferrari and McLaren, Verstappen was able to take a fifth place while Pérez was unable to finish the race because of his collision with Carlos Sainz.
While Singapore was to be the worst meeting for the team based in Milton Keynes, due to its track not very suitable for the RB20, Verstappen ranked second by displaying a very good pace, however far from that of Norris.
Christian Horner, the team principal, explained that Red Bull’s setbacks at Monza actually helped uncover the causes of the car’s difficulties: “We were already aware of the problems, but I think Monza really revealed some of the origin of these problems and allowed us to identify them better. So I see Monza as the lowest point and we are starting to bounce back at from there”he declared in Singapore.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo de: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Although these are somewhat damage-limiting results, they demonstrate some progress made by the team. Red Bull therefore seems to have a new working base, while the F1 teams begin their final stretch of development before the end of the season.
“It is obvious that the gap with Lando was significant in the first part of the race [à Singapour] and we now have a month to work hard and try to make the car perform better in Austin.”added Horner. “When you consider where we were [à Monza]I think we have made real progress. We have a development thread and we have figured out some of the issues with the car. I think we’re starting to solve them.”
“We were better in Baku, we were better [à Singapour]. So there will be a lot of sleepless nights in Milton Keynes. The McLaren is the benchmark car at the moment and we have a bit of catching up to do, but we have the people and the capability to do it.”
Everyone is very motivated in the team and we are always fighting for both championships.
Thus, developments are planned in Austin for Red Bull. Horner said the data gathered in recent weeks will be crucial, although it does not fully apply to the upcoming circuits in Texas, Mexico and Brazil, which are very different from those encountered recently.
“[L’évolution d’Austin] has probably not yet been finalized, [et] “There’s a lot of information coming out of these events that will influence what happens to the car in Austin.”recognized the British director. “We got a lot of useful information from the last two races, but they are very, very different places [comparés aux] curves of Austin and Mexico. Brazil is still different, so it will be interesting. Everyone is very motivated in the team and we are always fighting for both championships.”
With Filip Cleeren and Ronald Vording
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