The performance of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull vehicle during the Italian Grand Prix sparked intense irritation and resentment within the global champion. He expressed his strong disappointment in Monza, criticising the vehicle for its unmanageability, which could possibly hinder his pursuit of a fourth championship. The issue is not just down to Verstappen’s potential exaggeration – he has predicted these problems for a prolonged span of time, and Red Bull has yet to offer a fix, which indicates the Dutch driver may indeed be correct, highlighting a genuine problem.
Verstappen managed to secure the seventh position during qualifying rounds in Monza and ended the race at sixth. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari took the champion spot, whilst Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris of McLaren came second and third, they were clearly a cut above the rest, ahead of the Red Bull by over 30 seconds. In comparison, Sergio Pérez, Verstappen’s colleague, likened their vehicle’s performance to that of a boat, a criticism as harsh as any F1 pilote can express towards their vehicle.
Despite the unfavorable circumstances, Verstappen continues to lead Norris by 62 points with eight races left, but his pessimistic prediction about the unlikelihood of achieving both titles due to the vehicle’s current condition seems plausible. It’s even more so given that McLaren is closing the gap with Red Bull in the constructors’ championship by just eight points. The magnitude of this swift change of fortunes is challenging to fathom, particularly for the Red Bull camp. At the start of the season, Verstappen had a comfortable lead, winning seven out of the first ten races. The championship seemed all but guaranteed.
In hindsight, the developments in Monza and the preceding five races have shown that things have gone downhill. The alleged illegal use of the asymmetric braking system, as declared by the FIA, has been heavily discussed by conspiracy theorists. While there were rumors that said system was used by Red Bull, the team denies this claim. Moreover, the alleged removal of such a system does not coincide with the team’s dismal performance.
The shortcomings of the race car have become significantly apparent since its performance at the Miami Grand Prix in early May. There exists a distinct lack of harmony between the front and rear components of the vehicle, leading to erratic behaviour and an incapability to smoothly manoeuvre through corners. This imbalance, when counterbalanced, induces oversteer, thereby worsening tyre wear and issues with grip.
The identified discrepancies seem to have surfaced due to enhancement strategies implemented by the team in anticipation of the Miami race. However, these enhancements haven’t delivered as predicted by the wind tunnel test results, with subsequent amends further exacerbating the situation.
In an arena where stagnation is not an option, the team has been forced to strive for improvements. Red Bull’s dominance over the two years has hit a ceiling, with the team struggling to further refine the car design. This perseverance is essential as McLaren has outpaced them, with Mercedes and Ferrari not far behind.
Verstappen’s irritation might be attributed to the team’s delay and lacklustre approach in responding to these issues, initially flagged by him during the Miami race. The problems continue to persist, and cannot be dismissed as unique to specific tracks. Perez echoed these concerns, indicating that the issues during the races at Monza closely resembled those encountered in the prior Zandvoort round, despite both tracks having markedly distinct attributes.
Team Principal Christian Horner’s observation that the issues surfaced when the car was pushed to its limits doesn’t bode well for Red Bull. Moreover, the confession that the issues have left the team puzzled only adds to Verstappen’s concern.
The team convened in Monza on Saturday, seeking solutions and planning the way forward. With the upcoming races in Baku and Singapore, which are expected to present their car with formidable challenges, the team is unlikely to find any reprieve soon.
Despite Verstappen holding a notable lead, it may not provide the safety net he needs. The earlier computations of Norris overcoming Verstappen to grab the second position in each upcoming race rendered it a bit of a long shot, but certainly achievable. However, this might no longer be the case.
In Monza, both McLarens, both Ferraris and a Mercedes outperformed the Red Bull. If the pattern moves towards Norris capitalising on points against a fourth or fifth spot finish for Verstappen, then the points gap will likely tilt in favour of the British racer at a quicker pace. Verstappen openly criticised his team aware of this impending threat. – Guardian