Max Verstappen declares Monaco a ‘wake-up call’ for Red Bull as the Dutchman scathes the team on their prospects for success at the Canadian Grand Prix. In a recent reflection, Max Verstappen admitted that the Monaco Grand Prix was a significant wake-up call for Red Bull Racing.
The race in the glamorous principality two weeks ago highlighted significant issues with the RB20’s performance over kerbs and bumps. Despite the car’s dominance this season, Verstappen failed to secure a podium finish in Monaco, setting off alarm bells within the team.
Marko: Technical problems in the simulator
Earlier this week writing in his ‘Speedweek’ column, Helmut Marko pinpointed a critical problem rooted in the team’s simulator. According to Marko:
“The problem starts in the simulator, which has indicated that the car runs perfectly over the kerbs. Simply put, the simulator and reality do not correlate”.
This discrepancy between simulated performance and real-world behaviour has plagued the team at various circuits, with the problem coming to a head at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The significance of the simulator issue was dramatically highlighted in Singapore, where Red Bull suffered a rare defeat in the 2023 season. Marko explained that the simulator was “spitting out something that was not real”, leading to unforeseen challenges on track. This issue was identified as the main factor undermining their race strategy and performance.
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Canadian Grand Prix will be difficult for Red Bull
Recognising the critical nature of this issue, Red Bull will undertake a comprehensive review of its simulator technology. Marko was optimistic about diagnosing the root cause of the simulator’s inaccurate data output.
“The poor correlation is the first thing we will look at,” he said, stressing the importance of aligning simulator output with real-world conditions.
However, despite this optimism, Marko was unable to provide a concrete timeline for when these issues might be fully resolved. He warned fans and stakeholders alike that a quick turnaround was unlikely.
“Montreal could also be a difficult weekend for us,” he admitted, reflecting on the ongoing challenges facing the team.
Ongoing problems from day one
Verstappen concurs with Marko saying: “The problem is not new for the team: It has been a problem since day one of the new regulations,” says Verstappen. “We know that, but we have not been able to solve it yet.”
The challenges facing Red Bull in Monaco are not entirely new. Verstappen points out that they have persisted since the introduction of the new regulations. While Red Bull have managed to mask these difficulties through their overall dominance, particularly in the 2023 season, the Monaco race has exposed their vulnerabilities.
As their rivals have closed the performance gap, Red Bull’s struggles with cornering have become more pronounced.
“But when everyone is catching up, you can no longer rely on your advantage, even if you are bad at cornering,” says the Dutchman.
The upcoming race in Canada poses a potential threat to Red Bull because of the importance of kerbs at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Although not as extreme as Monaco, the Canadian track demands expert curb handling, putting the team under pressure to address their shortcomings.
“I don’t think it will be as extreme as Monaco,” says Sergio Pérez, “but of course it’s a track where you have to take the kerbs with you. That is definitely one of the most important things about this track, so I expect us to suffer a bit in that respect.”
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Problem area: Simulator
The use of simulators is crucial in preparing for race weekends. Teams arrive at the track with detailed strategies and set-ups derived from extensive simulator work. However, Red Bull faces an additional challenge in this area. According to Helmut Marko, the team’s motorsport consultant, there seems to be a discrepancy between simulator data and real-world performance.
“Maybe they (the kerbs) are too good in the simulator and that gives you the wrong impression of how to set up the car,” explains Verstappen. “But on other tracks we do a better job than the others, I think.”
This discrepancy in simulator data complicates Red Bull’s preparation, making it harder to find the optimum set-up for tracks with challenging corners. While simulators are valuable tools, their effectiveness varies from track to track.
“But to be honest, I think if you ask everyone here, it’s the same. It’s difficult to get it right every time. It’s still a good tool and it helps us because we can try a lot of things in the simulator. But some tracks work better than others.”
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No solution until 2025 seethes Verstappen
After the Monaco wake-up call, Red Bull has stepped up its efforts to find solutions. However, Verstappen admits there is no quick fix. Significant changes to the car’s design are needed, but those changes are constrained by budget limitations.
“We definitely need to get a grip on it,” continues the Dutchman,
“…but it just takes time to make big changes to the car because we might have to change our design, but you can’t do that with the budget limit,” seethes Verstappen.
The timeframe for a comprehensive solution appears to be 2025, which would coincide with the development of a new car. Nevertheless, Verstappen remains optimistic about their prospects for the current season.
“This means that an improvement will probably only come with the new car in 2025, although I believe we can do a good job this year if everything is right”.
Details on the specific challenges ahead in Montreal for Red Bull
The upcoming race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal presents its own set of challenges, compounded by the unresolved simulator issues. Much like Monaco, the Montreal circuit is notorious for its challenging kerbs that require precise handling.
Red Bull’s struggles with kerbs were on full display in Monaco, where Max Verstappen likened the car’s handling to that of a “kangaroo”.
The Montreal circuit has undergone significant changes for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, adding to the complexity of the upcoming race.
The organisers have replaced all the kerbs with identical ones and the track has been completely resurfaced. The FIA has also modified the run-off area at Turn 8, incorporating both asphalt and grass, and realigned the barriers. In addition, pure asphalt strips have replaced the previous grass-covered pavers behind the kerbs of turns 1, 3 and 6.
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