Last Updated on September 16 2024, 10:21 pm
Max Verstappen struggles with his Red Bull Racing RB20, slamming it as “Very difficult to drive” after being frustrated with his fifth place finish in Baku – Reigning Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen endured a difficult Sunday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, finishing a disappointing fifth. The result cost him valuable points in the Drivers’ Championship, with British driver Lando Norris gaining ground.
Once again, the Dutchman blamed his lacklustre performance on his Red Bull RB20, which failed to deliver the speed and control he needed.
“The RB20 was just very bad again,” said a visibly disappointed Verstappen, who admitted the car didn’t live up to his expectations.
“I had no speed at all and there was more wear on the medium tyres,” he added. Despite making some progress later in the race, the car’s problems prevented him from challenging the front runners. Verstappen’s problems were compounded when both Sergio Pérez and Carlos Sainz retired near the end of the race, leaving him to fend off competition from other teams.
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Tyre problems and overheating brakes: Verstappen’s struggles explained**
Verstappen’s problems began early in the race, particularly with the medium compound tyres, which showed significant wear and hampered his ability to maintain speed.
“I had no speed at all on the medium tyres,” he said, pointing out that the drop in performance was noticeable from the start. However, when the team switched to the harder tyres he was able to push more and show glimpses of the dominant form he is known for.
Even with the harder compound, Verstappen’s momentum was cut short by other challenges.
“I got stuck behind [Alexander] Albon and Norris,” he said, revealing how the close battle in midfield led to the brakes overheating.
“That caused the brakes to overheat and I had to pull away. After that it was a bit better, but my car is very difficult to drive.”
The overheating brakes meant that Verstappen had to ease off at crucial stages of the race, allowing his rivals to take advantage.
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New Red Bull parts backfire, slowing RB20**.
Adding to his frustration was the fact that Red Bull had introduced new components to the RB20 ahead of the Baku race, designed to improve the car’s performance. However, these changes seemed to have the opposite effect.
“It’s bitter for me,” said Verstappen, “because after Baku Red Bull brought new parts for my car, but they didn’t make the car faster, they made it slower.”
The three-time world champion noted that the changes upset the balance of the car, hindering his ability to push the limits in crucial sections of the track.
Verstappen first noticed something was amiss during qualifying, when the new parts failed to deliver the expected performance boost.
“I noticed in qualifying that the things we put in weren’t working at all,” he said, highlighting problems with braking and cornering.
“I couldn’t brake, I couldn’t attack the corners,” he added, describing his frustration at not being able to exploit his usual driving style.
RB20’s Balance Woes: A Go-Kart-like experience
One of Verstappen’s most prominent complaints was the RB20’s balance, which he described as “so bad that one wheel lifted off the ground every time”.
This lack of stability severely compromised his control in the slower corners, where precision is crucial. Verstappen likened the experience to driving a go-kart, as he was constantly battling against the car’s erratic handling.
“In the slow corners I was always bouncing in all directions. It felt like a go-kart,” he explained, visibly frustrated by the car’s inability to cope with Baku’s challenging circuit.
Verstappen’s frustration continued late in the race when he was overtaken by Lando Norris, his main rival for the Drivers’ Championship.
“I didn’t stand a chance [against Norris],” admitted Verstappen.
“Everything went against us.” With Norris now closing the gap in the standings, Verstappen’s lead after Baku is down to 59 points, a gap that is likely to increase the pressure as the season progresses.
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Red Bull loses championship lead to McLaren
The disappointing result in Baku also had wider implications for Red Bull as a team. The Bulls lost their lead in the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren, who now lead by 20 points. A dominant force for much of the season, Red Bull has been hit hard by technical problems and underwhelming performances in recent races. Verstappen’s struggles in Baku, compounded by the retirement of teammate Pérez, saw McLaren capitalise on their rival’s misfortune.
While Verstappen remains a dominant figure in the Drivers’ Championship, his post-race comments reflect growing concerns over the RB20’s reliability and its potential impact on his title defence.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Verstappen said, suggesting the team will have to make significant adjustments to get the RB20 back on track for the next race.
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Looking Ahead: Red Bull’s next steps
As Red Bull looks to bounce back from a difficult weekend in Baku, all eyes will be on the team to see how they address the issues with the RB20. Verstappen’s frustration highlights the fine margins in F1, where even small changes can make or break a car’s performance. As the championship race tightens, Red Bull will need to ensure their car is capable of matching Verstappen’s talents if they are to fend off strong competition from McLaren and others.
The next race will be crucial for Verstappen and Red Bull as they look to regain their momentum and reassert their dominance in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
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