Verstappen pinpoints major issue at Red Bull: 'That's what you get'

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Verstappen points out Red Bull's problem after Monaco qualifying
25 May at 17:39
25
  • Tim Kraaij

Red Bull Racing came up with a radical new concept for the car in 2024. The car was supposed to improve its weaknesses and ensure the team could continue to grow. Max Verstappen knows enough after qualifying in Monaco: it clearly did not succeed.

Monaco was already seen as a particularly difficult Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing prior to the race weekend. McLaren and Ferrari are clearly closer in 2024, so everything has to go perfectly for Red Bull to get the best result out of it. That Verstappen did not get beyond P6 was no surprise to him.

This is Red Bull's problem

"It's also not something new. I mean, we have had this problem since 2022. Of course, for the last two years, I think we had a car advantage, so then it gets masked a little bit, because we gain in the corners where the curbs and the bumps are not that much of a limitation, but with everyone catching up, naturally, when you're not improving your weakest point, yeah, you get found out. And that's what happened this weekend," said Max after qualifying in Monaco.

Red Bull's aim with the new car concept was precisely to fix that weak spot. However, when asked by GPblog, Verstappen made it clear that the car is clearly no better. "It's the same, like 22, 23, it's the same." But shouldn't the new car have improved that? "Yeah, well, it was supposed to be, but it didn't happen."

That Red Bull has taken a big step back at a circuit like Monaco was also clear from Perez. According to Verstappen, a driver who is always good on street circuits anyway, but the Mexican did not get beyond P18. According to Verstappen, a clear signal that something is fundamentally wrong with the car.