Red Bull did have to make radical changes with RB20: 'Risk was too great'

Red Bull Racing apparently love a surprise. Whereas their competitors were basing their designs for 2024 on the RB19, the Austrian team decided to make a major change. Even at first glance, the RB20 has similarities to last year's Mercedes, a car that that team had little success with. Yet Red Bull believes a radical turnaround is the best way forward.

Thanks to the success of Max Verstappen in particular in 2023, Red Bull were ahead of the rest, Helmut Marko revealed to the Kleine Zeitung. "That was a relief, because there was definitely still a risk. Because we were so dominant last year, we were able to think about the new car early on. If we had only made an improved version of last year's car, there would have been a big risk that someone would discover something beyond the normal further development. We chose a more radical route. I would describe the car as a revolution."

Marko impressed with Verstappen

Helmut Marko also saw that the RB20 looked like a top car from the outset, even if Red Bull failed to achieve the fastest time on Thursday and Friday. It should be noted that on Friday, Verstappen did not for a moment try to top the timesheet with a glory run on the softest tyres. Rather, the Dutchman and his team opted to do long runs.

From the pit box, Marko saw that it was fine. He told the Austrian newspaper that Verstappen's final long run was "impressive". According to Marko, Verstappen put consistent, fast times on the boards with great ease. No doubt that gives both Verstappen and Marko a lot of confidence for the first race in Bahrain next weekend.