That the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship could be different from that of last year – perhaps not in the final result, but in the journey itself – had already been clear on several occasions. First in Australia, with the victory of Carlos Sainz, then in Miami, with that of Lando Norris. Imola was further confirmation of a more than attackable Red Bull, but then came further confirmation in yesterday’s qualifying, those of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Sixth Max Verstappen, even 18th Sergio Perez. A disaster, considering the dominance Red Bull had shown the world over the last season and a half. It’s difficult to think of a single case: now the clues that lead us to think that McLaren and Ferrari are really almost at the level of the Milton Keynes team are starting to be numerous.
Furthermore, yesterday Helmut Marko gave further clues of an unexpected difficulty of a team which – it should be remembered – started 2024 with a real earthquake, the Horner case, but also the recent farewell to his role of Adrian Newey, now relegated to acting as testimonial for the RB17 hypercar project for 50 lucky owners before leaving Red Bull and starting a new adventure in the world championship Circus.
The consultant from Milton Keynes was direct, as he usually proves to be. The RB20s are in difficulty with the set-ups, and this seemed evident well before the former Austrian driver confirmed it. Then, however, much more important words arrived: Red Bull lacks correlation between simulation and track. Something for which the team managed by Christian Horner has often been indicated as a point of reference for the Circus.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
“I think it’s well known that we had set-up problems all weekend,” said Marko after yesterday’s qualifying. “We managed to improve and we demonstrated this in several laps done in qualifying.”
“But once again, we never had the opportunity to take pole position. And, once again, Max had to risk everything for a front row position. But things went wrong. It was a blow.” .
Marko admitted what had never been declared until now by the reigning world champion team: everyone in Milton Keynes was thinking of another dominant season like 2023. Instead, starting from Australia, things have been different in a evident and increasingly sudden.
“We started the season thinking it would be an unstoppable success. Then there was the first disappointment in Australia. But the underlying problem is not the tracks, but the fact that the correlation between the simulator and the track doesn’t work.”
“In the simulator, we pass over the curbs without problems. Here, as Verstappen put it, the car bounces like a kangaroo. This is the problem, which was also evident in the set-up in Miami and partly in Imola.”
After the alarm, however, here is hope: with the return of permanent tracks, the RB20s will once again become the reference point for Formula 1. As long as they no longer underestimate their rivals, who have made undeniable steps forward by reducing their gap with the team reference of today’s F1.
“This is where we have to start, but we believe that when we get to real circuits like Barcelona, for example, we will find our old form again.”
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