Red Bull continues to struggle with its RB20; ‘Dramatically worse’, but Marko remains optimistic – Red Bull Racing has found itself in turbulent waters in recent weeks, struggling with the performance of its RB20 Formula One car. The team, once dominant this season, are now struggling with issues that threaten to affect their position in the standings at upcoming races.
But Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, remains confident of a comeback. Despite the challenges, the team have identified the underlying problem and are hoping to turn things around, albeit not immediately.
From early dominance to struggles
At the start of the 2024 season, Red Bull appeared to be in a league of its own. Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, was pushing the RB20 to its limits and reaping the rewards. The car was hailed as “close to perfection” by Helmut Marko in an interview with Sport Bild. The early races showed Red Bull’s prowess and it looked as if they would continue their dominance throughout the season.
However, by the time the competition reached the Miami Grand Prix, there were signs of trouble. Despite Verstappen’s best efforts to maximise the car’s potential, the RB20 had lost its edge and the competition was closing the gap.
Marko admitted that by Miami it was clear that the RB20 was no longer the gold standard in F1. Since then, the car has not regained its competitive edge, leaving Red Bull in the uncharacteristic position of playing catch-up.
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Mercedes on the rise, Red Bull in decline
On the other hand, several teams including Mercedes are making significant strides in the 2024 Formula One season, with three race wins and several podium finishes marking a clear upward trend for the team. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has weighed in on Red Bull’s recent struggles and provided some insight into the situation.
Red Bull dominated the 2023 Formula One season with ease and carried their momentum into the 2024 season, winning seven of the first ten races. It looked as if Red Bull and Verstappen would continue their dominance. However, the team’s fortunes took a dramatic turn in the second half of the season, leading to what can only be described as a decline in form.
McLaren recently overtook Red Bull in the team standings, signalling a significant shift in the competitive landscape. Despite this, Max Verstappen remains the favourite in the Drivers’ Championship, although his once commanding lead has shrunk considerably.
This unexpected development has taken many by surprise, including Mercedes’ Wolff.
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Toto Wolff: Red Bull’s struggles ‘unbelievable
Toto Wolff has watched Red Bull’s recent downturn with disbelief. Speaking to ‘oe24’, the Mercedes boss commented on the situation, expressing his surprise at how quickly Red Bull’s performance has deteriorated.
“It is unbelievable how things have gone backwards for them,” Wolff remarked, acknowledging that Red Bull’s decline in form has been difficult for many in the sport to comprehend. He was quick to suggest a possible reason for the team’s sudden struggles: “When you lose so many important people, it has to have an effect.”
The comment refers to the loss of key personnel at Red Bull, which has reportedly affected the team’s performance. Wolff believes that the loss of influential figures in management and engineering has a direct impact on a team’s ability to maintain consistency and success, as it disrupts the balance of expertise and innovation that is crucial in Formula One.
Internal tensions at Red Bull
The internal situation at Red Bull has been far from smooth in recent months, with media reports suggesting various issues surrounding team principal Christian Horner. Speculation suggests that these challenges have played a part in Red Bull’s decline. Red Bull has seen a number of key figures leave in recent weeks, and it has been suggested that Horner’s leadership may be one of the reasons for the exodus.
Horner has come under increasing scrutiny and reports have emerged of tensions between him and other figures in the F1 world, including Ford executives. Despite the media speculation, Red Bull have sought to address the internal issues and Wolff has suggested that these factors may have exacerbated the team’s current difficulties.
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Mercedes optimistic about the future
While Red Bull struggles but remains bullish about regaining their dominance, Mercedes are cautiously optimistic about their future. Although the team currently sit fourth in the Constructors’ Championship and have little chance of finishing in the top three, Wolff remains confident. He believes that missing out on a higher position in the standings could offer a hidden advantage: more time for wind tunnel testing next year.
“This is the silver lining on the horizon for us,” said Wolff, referring to regulations that allocate wind tunnel time based on the previous season’s performance. With more time to refine their car for the future, Mercedes are looking to 2026 as the year they could return to the top of the sport.
Marko admits the RB20 is “Dramatically worse”
Red Bull’s RB20, which had initially delivered exceptional performances, certainly appears to be dramatically off the pace. Marko was reluctant to elaborate on the technical reasons, but admitted that the team had made a misstep in the car’s development.
“With this generation of cars it is such a fine line that one wrong step makes the car dramatically worse,” explained Marko. He drew parallels with other teams such as Ferrari and Aston Martin, who have also struggled after taking the wrong development direction. For Red Bull, a small mistake in understanding or adjusting the car’s dynamics has led to a significant drop in performance.
However, Marko was not despondent. He insisted that the team had recognised their mistake and were actively working on a solution.
“Thank God we have recognised the mistake and are on the way to correcting it,” said Marko, offering a glimmer of hope to fans and stakeholders alike.
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Recovery Timeline: Patience required
Red Bull may have identified the problem, but it will take time to fix. The team does not expect the problem to be resolved in time for the upcoming race in Singapore, where their struggles could still be evident. Instead, Marko suggested that Red Bull’s recovery may not come until the Austin race.
This timetable is far from ideal for a team used to dominating the sport, but the willingness to admit and address the problem reflects the team’s long-term strategy.
Red Bull is taking a measured approach to ensure that when the corrections are made, they will restore the car’s competitive edge for the rest of the season and beyond.
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How did Red Bull get here?
The pressing question for many fans and analysts is how Red Bull, a team known for its precision and excellence, found itself in this precarious position. According to Marko, the answer lies in the loss of key personnel.
“We must not forget that some very good people have left us,” he said.
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With its strong record in F1, Red Bull has been a prime target for other teams looking to poach top talent. These key departures have affected Red Bull’s ability to maintain the high level of performance expected of them. Marko explained that in such a competitive environment, Red Bull can only fill certain management or engineering positions once, while other teams may offer better positions and higher salaries.
This talent drain has contributed to the team’s current struggles as they are forced to adapt to the loss of critical knowledge and experience.
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Red Bull’s internal struggles: A ‘community of convenience’
Aside from the technical issues and staff departures, Marko also highlighted the team’s internal challenges. The team has faced its fair share of turbulence, both on and off the track.
This has led him to describe Red Bull as a “sporting community of convenience”. In his words, the team has faced significant challenges, but remains united by a common goal.
Despite the difficulties, Marko has found a silver lining: “We are all pulling together and have a common goal: to become world champions. To achieve this, we work together passionately and in the best possible way”. It is this shared ambition that continues to drive the team forward, despite the challenges they currently face.
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The road ahead: Can Red Bull regain its dominance?
As Red Bull continues its efforts to reverse the RB20’s decline, the team finds itself in a rare position of vulnerability. Once untouchable at the start of the season, the mid-season slump has shown that even F1’s giants are not immune to setbacks.
However, with a clear understanding of the mistake and a plan to correct it, the team remain hopeful that they can turn things around. The F1 landscape is as competitive as ever, and while Singapore may still reflect Red Bull’s current struggles, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the expected improvements in Austin can catapult them back to the top.
Red Bull’s resilience, combined with their commitment to serial winning, suggests that their story is far from over this season. With the right adjustments, they could once again find themselves at the forefront of the chase for World Championship glory.
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This loss of form is as large as Ferrari’s after the FIA “had a word” about engine abnormalities some time ago. It’s strange that it comes after another “word” from the authorities.