Red Bull Struggles Continue in Bahrain: Verstappen Addresses Concerns

After a disappointing performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull and driver Max Verstappen find themselves in a familiar position – battling for positions they’d rather not be fighting for. Despite finishing sixth, Verstappen admits that the team needs to make rapid progress to improve their current situation.

Adjusting Development Trajectory for RB20

The Bahrain setback has prompted changes in Red Bull’s development trajectory for the RB20. Verstappen acknowledges that some scheduled upgrades had to be adjusted, but he stresses that a complete overhaul of the development path is not necessary. “Now we at least know what our problems are,” he added.

The Dutch driver clarifies that while some issues remain, they have a better understanding of their challenges. This newfound clarity gives them hope that upcoming updates can shift the balance of the car. However, Verstappen admits that Bahrain was a tough race for Red Bull, and they need to find extra performance quickly.

Correlation Issues and Wind Tunnel Challenges

The question then turns to how effective upcoming upgrades will be. This concern stems from two factors raised by team principal Christian Horner: balance issues similar to last year’s, and ongoing correlation problems with the wind tunnel. While Red Bull is relying more on track data for updates, the outdated wind tunnel remains a hindrance.

Verstappen explains that he relies on past experience with the wind tunnel to have confidence in upcoming updates. However, modern Formula 1 leaves little room for trial and error due to budget caps, ATR system limitations, and testing restrictions. This means that understanding the issues may have been achieved, but introducing effective solutions remains a challenge.

Can Red Bull Turn Things Around Without Newey?

The similarity of this year’s problems to last year’s highlights that the technical team hasn’t been able to solve them over the winter. Despite hopes for improvement with the new car, the technical team led by Pierre Wache hasn’t fully delivered on expectations so far.

Verstappen remains calm about the situation, acknowledging that he can only do his best to improve the situation behind the scenes and maximize his own performance on track. He expresses faith in Red Bull’s ability to become more competitive again but is cautious about expectations for a quick turnaround.

Key Moments for Red Bull This Year

Imola and Barcelona are seen as key moments for Red Bull this year, with a large update package expected at Imola and the FIA clamping down on flexi-wings even further at Barcelona. Verstappen remains optimistic but doesn’t want to overthink it – they’ll see how much these changes will help them in the coming races.