Red Bull faces grim reality: Constructors’ Championship all but lost. The 2024 Formula One season has taken an unexpected and dramatic turn for Red Bull Racing, a team that has been synonymous with dominance in recent years. After a series of disappointing performances, most notably at the Italian Grand Prix, the once seemingly invincible team are now facing a harsh reality: their prospects of winning the Constructors’ Championship are rapidly diminishing.
According to insider reports, Red Bull have all but conceded the title and are now focusing solely on securing the Drivers’ Championship as the season enters its final stages.
Red Bull’s internal struggles revealed amid season-defining challenges
This internal shift in strategy marks a significant moment in a season in which Red Bull have struggled to maintain their competitive edge. Once seemingly unbeatable, the team is now under increasing pressure from their closest rivals, McLaren and Ferrari, who have steadily closed the gap in the Constructors’ Championship.
With just eight races remaining, Red Bull’s leadership is faced with the challenge of salvaging what they can from a season that has not gone to plan.
Drivers’ Championship: A beacon of hope amid mounting tensions
Despite the mounting challenges, Red Bull’s hopes of winning the Drivers’ Championship remain alive, thanks in large part to Max Verstappen’s outstanding performances throughout the season. The Dutchman has been a consistent force on the track and maintains a 62-point lead over his closest rival, McLaren’s Lando Norris.
This significant lead is providing some comfort to Red Bull, who are now backing Verstappen to win the Drivers’ Championship for the team.
However, while Verstappen’s position looks strong on paper, the team’s overall trajectory has raised serious concerns within Red Bull’s upper echelons. Their once considerable lead in the Constructors’ Championship has been whittled down to just eight points over McLaren, with Ferrari just 39 points behind. This narrowing gap has fuelled internal concerns that Red Bull may not be able to hold off their rivals in the remaining races, especially with both McLaren and Ferrari on the rise.
Insider revelation: “Red Bull have given up on the constructors’ title”
The doubts surrounding Red Bull’s ability to retain the Constructors’ Championship have been reinforced by recent comments from Julianne Cerasoli, a respected Brazilian Formula One journalist. Speaking on the sidelines of the Italian Grand Prix, Cerasoli revealed a conversation that provided a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Red Bull and highlighted the gravity of the situation.
“Someone from McLaren told me that a senior Red Bull executive told him that the Constructors’ Championship was already lost,” Cerasoli revealed.
“Red Bull have already given up on the Constructors’ Championship and are now fully focused on the Drivers’ Championship because they no longer believe they can win the Constructors’ Championship,” she added.
These revelations suggest a significant change in strategy for Red Bull, who appear to be preparing for a battle they no longer believe they can win. The decision to focus solely on the Drivers’ Championship suggests a pragmatic approach to securing at least one title, despite the growing odds against them.
A decline in form: Red Bull’s recent struggles and their implications
Red Bull’s situation has been further complicated by a marked decline in performance in recent races. Just six races ago, the team held a commanding 93-point lead over McLaren and a 60-point advantage over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship. Since the Spanish Grand Prix, however, that cushion has been steadily eroded, reaching a critical point as the season enters its final stages.
The upcoming race in Baku is expected to be a pivotal moment, with many expecting Red Bull to lose their fragile lead in the standings. This rapid fall from grace has been attributed to several factors, including the relentless improvement of their rivals and the underwhelming performance of Sergio Pérez, Red Bull’s second driver.
The Pérez problem: a key factor in Red Bull’s decline
One of the biggest contributors to Red Bull’s problems this season has been the disappointing performance of Sergio Pérez. The Mexican, who was expected to provide strong support for Verstappen, has struggled to produce consistent results. With just 143 points to his name, Pérez currently sits in seventh place in the Drivers’ Championship, well below the expectations set for him at the start of the season.
Pérez’s underperformance has placed an immense burden on Verstappen, who has been forced to carry the team almost single-handedly. This imbalance has made it increasingly difficult for Red Bull to compete effectively in the Constructors’ Championship, where the contributions of both drivers are crucial.
As the season progresses, the disparity in performance between Verstappen and Pérez continues to be a significant obstacle to Red Bull’s overall success.
Red Bull’s concerns extend beyond their own garage: Scrutiny of McLaren and Mercedes front wings
As Red Bull grapple with their own performance issues, they are also keeping a wary eye on the competition, particularly McLaren and Mercedes. During the recent Italian Grand Prix at Monza, McLaren and Mercedes surprised the F1 community with their impressive qualifying performances, raising suspicions within the Red Bull camp. Helmut Marko, a key advisor to Red Bull, has publicly called for a detailed analysis of the front wings used by McLaren and Mercedes, highlighting concerns that these components may be giving an unfair advantage.
Qualifying at Monza came as a shock to many, especially Red Bull. Lando Norris secured pole position for McLaren, with team-mate Oscar Piastri second. Mercedes’ George Russell was third, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen starting a disappointing seventh, more than six-tenths of a second behind Norris. This unexpected performance gap has intensified scrutiny of the technical aspects of the competing cars, particularly the front wings.
Ferrari eventually won the race with a clever one-stop strategy. However, it was McLaren’s sheer speed that caught the eye, prompting questions as to how the team had made such a performance leap. Marko, reflecting the unease within Red Bull, stated, “The front wing of McLaren and Mercedes needs to be analysed. This echoes earlier concerns expressed by Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, who pointed to the teams’ front wings after the Dutch Grand Prix.
The front wing controversy: An ongoing issue in Formula 1
The design and functionality of front wings has long been a contentious issue in Formula One. These components are critical to aerodynamics and have a significant impact on a car’s performance by managing airflow and downforce. Recognising the potential for innovation – and controversy – in this area, the FIA has increased its scrutiny of front wings throughout the season. Earlier this year, the governing body even installed additional cameras on certain cars to monitor the wings more closely.
Marko’s call for an investigation reflects the high stakes of the championship. Any perceived advantage, especially in a season as competitive as this, can make the difference between victory and defeat.
Tom Coronel, a veteran motorsport analyst, summed up the paddock’s curiosity: “Everyone wants to know McLaren’s secret because it is worth a lot of money. If you do well with high and low downforce, like at Zandvoort and Monza, and are good at tyre management everywhere, then you will collect big trophies for the rest of the season.”
Potential fallout: Will the FIA step in?
The mounting pressure from Red Bull, coupled with the spotlight now on McLaren and Mercedes, raises the possibility of further FIA investigations. The governing body’s increased vigilance earlier this year suggests that any credible evidence of rule-bending could lead to swift action.
Damon Hill, a former F1 champion, reacted to Marko’s comments with a sense of foreboding, quipping: “Uh-oh. Here we go again. His comment hints at the potential for another round of technical disputes that could overshadow the race.”
If the FIA does decide to investigate, the outcome could have significant implications not only for McLaren and Mercedes, but for the championship as a whole. A ruling in favour of Red Bull’s allegations could change the competitive landscape, potentially neutralising the advantage that McLaren and Mercedes have gained.
Conversely, if the designs are deemed legal, it would confirm the ingenuity and technical prowess of these teams and set a new standard for innovation in the sport.
Red Bull’s double battle: On and off the track
As Red Bull grapple with the possibility of losing the Constructors’ Championship, they are clearly concerned about the technological advances of their rivals. The call for a deeper investigation into McLaren and Mercedes’ front wings could be seen as an attempt to level the playing field, especially as Red Bull’s lead in the Constructors’ Championship becomes increasingly precarious.
While the team’s primary focus is now on securing the Drivers’ Championship with Verstappen, the outcome of any investigation into the front wings could have significant implications for the rest of the season. If McLaren or Mercedes are found to have breached the regulations, it could change the dynamics of the championship race.
On the other hand, if their designs are found to be legal, Red Bull will have to dig deeper to close the performance gap.
A season in the balance
The 2024 F1 season is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in recent memory, with Red Bull facing challenges on multiple fronts. As they fight to keep their championship hopes alive, both on the track and in the technical arena, the tension is palpable. The outcome of the races and investigations over the coming weeks is likely to define not only the season, but the future of the sport’s top teams.
Red Bull’s strategy, now underpinned by a focus on the Drivers’ Championship, reflects the changing dynamics of a season where every technical detail – and every point – counts.
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
