From total domination to seven different winners, Guenther Steiner, former Haas team principal, has voiced his belief that Max Verstappen’s period of domination in Formula 1 may be over, highlighting the sport’s recent unpredictability.

Reflecting on Verstappen’s dominant start to the season, Steiner noted that the Dutch driver seemed poised for another runaway year after winning four out of the first five races, including a commanding victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in mid-April. This early success echoed Verstappen’s 2023 season, where Red Bull achieved a staggering 21 victories out of 22 grands prix, with Verstappen himself taking 19 of those wins, leaving his competitors far behind.

However, the current season has taken an unexpected turn. Teams such as McLaren and Mercedes have risen to the challenge, challenging for pole positions and race wins, making the championship far more competitive than originally expected.

Red Bull’s once insurmountable lead in the Constructors’ Championship has been reduced to just 42 points over McLaren. In the Drivers’ Championship, Verstappen’s lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris stands at 78 points, far from the safe margin many expected.

 

 

 

Red Bull face bigger concerns beyond Perez’s struggles

As if taking heed of Steiner’s opinion, Max Verstappen gave his point of view about the situation and insisted that Red Bull’s main concern in their bid to maintain their lead in both Formula One championships is broader than the performance struggles of teammate Sergio Perez.

Despite Perez’s disappointing results, Verstappen believes the focus should be on the overall performance of the car rather than Perez’s recent struggles.

 

 

 

 

Perez’s recent performance problems

Perez’s struggles continued at the Belgian Grand Prix, where he turned a front row start into an eighth place finish. In the last eight races, Perez has scored just 28 points, allowing McLaren to close the gap in the Constructors’ Championship to just 42 points. This significant reduction in Red Bull’s lead has raised concerns within the team about their ability to maintain their competitive edge.

Despite these challenges, Red Bull management recently held a meeting to assess Perez’s position. After much discussion, it was decided that Perez would retain his place in the team alongside Verstappen beyond the mid-season break. This decision underlines the team’s belief in Perez’s potential to bounce back and contribute more in the second half of the season.

Red Bull Racing brain drain continues

 

 

 

 

Verstappen defends Perez

Verstappen, who has not won in four races, believes it is unfair to place all the blame for Red Bull’s recent struggles on Perez.

“We are teammates and we always try to give our feedback to the car and that is what Checo does,” said Verstappen. He insisted that Perez is fully contributing to the team’s efforts and highlighted the difficult circumstances they have both faced.

“We cannot deny that the last few weekends have been a bit difficult. I would also say that some of us have been a bit unlucky,” Verstappen added, referring to specific incidents such as Perez’s qualifying mishap at Silverstone, which forced him to start from the back of the grid.

“In a race like that, it’s very difficult to progress. Also, the people who started at the front were racing backwards,” he noted, underlining the unpredictable nature of recent races.

 

 

 

Focus on car performance

Verstappen insisted that Red Bull’s main focus should be on improving the performance of the car. ]

“From our side, we just have to focus on performance because our car has been a bit tricky at times,” he said. The team has struggled with balance issues, making it difficult to achieve consistent performance across different tracks and conditions.

He acknowledged that recent weekends have been challenging for both drivers.

“Even for me, the last couple of weekends have been very challenging to get the best out of the car and the team knows that,” Verstappen added. He stressed the importance of getting the car into a more predictable operating window to build stability from the first practice session through to the race.

 

 

Perez “Mentally broken” says…

 

 

The Spa-Francorchamps battle

Perez appeared to be on course for a strong result at Spa-Francorchamps, qualifying third in damp conditions and inheriting second place after Verstappen’s grid penalty. However, Perez struggled during the race, dropping through the pack as Verstappen recovered to finish fourth. This race highlighted the ongoing issues with the RB20’s performance, particularly its balance and tyre management.

Verstappen insisted that the main issue was the pace of the car.

“I think our main concern is the car,” he said, highlighting the difficulties they have had with tyre life and overall balance.

“If you look at Checo’s weekend, it was very positive, I would say. But in the race it just shows that we have problems with the tyres. I think the tyre life is still a problem. So I think that should be our main priority,” he said, suggesting that improving these aspects should be Red Bull’s main focus going forward.

Sainz: Paddock insider explains Williams move

 

 

 

Team co-operation and future focus

When asked about discussions with Perez regarding his performance, Verstappen said they focused on what they could control – improving the speed of the car.

“We only talk about what we can control and that’s obviously our influence to have a faster car,” he said. This collaborative approach highlights the team’s collective efforts to address their challenges and improve their competitive edge.

Verstappen reiterated the importance of working together as a team, discussing the balance of the car and what is needed to improve performance.

“We talk about the balance of the car. We talk about what we need from the car. Yeah, that’s always been a strong point,” he added. This emphasis on communication and teamwork is crucial as Red Bull look to refine their car and strategy for the remaining races of the season.

Piastri admits unlike to help Norris in title fight

 

 

Steiner: Verstappen dominance ended

In a special episode of the RacingNews365 podcast, Steiner discussed the unpredictability of this year’s F1 season, highlighting how it has defied early expectations.

“The beginning of the season, I would say, was again dominated by Max, but as we all know, all good things come to an end – and the end has come!” Steiner remarked.

He pointed out that while some fans had grown frustrated with the dominance of a single driver and team, the move towards more open competition had revived interest in the sport.

“Sometimes you just have to be patient and let things happen and not get negative. For some people it was getting frustrating, or ‘If we have another season like this, I’m not going to watch any more’. And suddenly you’ve got seven different winners in the first half. Who would have put money on that in race three or four this year? I wouldn’t, to be honest, but it’s a good thing.”

 

 

Surprise rookie at Audi

 

 

 

A wide field of contenders

This season has seen a wide range of winners, including Verstappen, Norris, McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. This variety of winners has made for an exciting and unpredictable season, with different teams and drivers excelling on different circuits.

Steiner admitted that form has fluctuated from circuit to circuit, making it difficult to predict who will come out on top in the remaining races. With ten races remaining in the season, he expressed his excitement at the continued unpredictability and the potential for more upsets.

“The amazing thing for me is that we still don’t know who is the best at the moment,” added Steiner.

“That’s a good thing going into the second half of the season. It makes it even more interesting and there are a lot of moving parts. As interesting as the first half was, I think the second half will be just as interesting, if not more so.”

F1 boss says Audi making a “fundamental mistake”

 

 

 

Looking ahead

As the season progresses, fans and teams alike are eagerly anticipating each race weekend, unsure of who will come out on top. The shift from predictable dominance to a more competitive field has breathed new life into the sport, promising an exciting conclusion to the 2024 F1 season.

The newfound unpredictability has not only made the races more exciting, but has also highlighted the depth of talent within the F1 grid. With multiple drivers and teams now capable of winning races, the second half of the season promises to deliver more drama, excitement and perhaps a few more upsets.

READ MORE: Perez “Mentally broken” says…

 

 

 

 

MORE F1 NEWS: Horner tells Max: “Perez is gone”

The well oiled winning machine that was Red Bull Racing in 2023 is now running with three wheels on the proverbial wagon. This season began with paddock uproar over allegations made about team boss Christian Horner’s behaviour, from which he was later cleared.

Max Verstappen added to the turmoil suggesting under certain circumstances he could leave the Milton Keynes team. He pledged his loyalty to Dr. Helmut Mark who he claimed “built the team from nothing” together with the late Red Bull energy drinks empire founder Didi Mateschitz.

The world champions began the season in their inimitable fashion winning five of the first six races, the exception being Carlos victory in Melbourne when a mechanical failure in Verstappen’s RB20 forced him to retire early in the race… READ MORE ON THIS STORY