Max Verstappen and the Monaco barriers
Although McLaren have made a “big step” and Ferrari a more “subtle” one, Christian Horner is not hitting the panic button but concedes Red Bull need to understand their Monaco issues.
While Sergio Perez’s Monaco Grand Prix was over on the very first lap when he was pitched into the barrier by Kevin Magnussen, Max Verstappen started P6 and that’s exactly where he finished.
Red Bull have ‘some issues’ they need to address with the RB20
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper
Verstappen would have likely fallen asleep during the processional race following his team-mate’s red flag, if it weren’t for the jolting impact his back endured from the street circuit’s kerbs.
Running a stiff set-up, one that Ted Kravitz explained does not work in Monte Carlo, what started as a headache on Friday ended with a sore back on Sunday.
Horner, the team boss of Red Bull, acknowledges that Red Bull needs to improve in the area of performance drop after Verstappen experienced a similar setback last year in Singapore, which is also a street circuit but a faster one.
He is, however, by no means panicking nor does he feel Red Bull have been exposed despite Verstappen declaring they’ve been “found out” as rivals have closed the gap.
Horner informed the media, including PlanetF1.com, that he believes they witnessed a similar occurrence in Singapore last year as well. He further stated that they have recently encountered another instance of this issue, acknowledging that it is an aspect of the car that requires improvement.
The race was incredibly uneventful, with the top 10 positions remaining unchanged from the start. The red flag ultimately brought the race to a halt, as it meant everyone would reach the end of the race without any further competition.
“We need to learn from the lessons of this weekend and tackle the car-related issues that have arisen.”
“They’re quick, Ferrari, McLaren,” he said. “Convergence was always inevitable.”
In my opinion, McLaren has taken a significant leap forward while Ferrari’s progress has been more gradual. However, we should wait and observe their performance in the upcoming two or three races to have a clearer picture.
“Now that we’re entering the crucial phase of the championship, let’s take a look at what lies ahead. With races in Montreal, Barcelona, Austria, and Silverstone, we’ll see how things unfold over the upcoming circuits. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
“We were prepared for a challenging weekend ahead. The qualifying session proved to be quite demanding, determining our starting position for the race.”
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When questioned about Verstappen’s criticism of his RB20 being comparable to a “go-kart,” Horner emphasized the importance for Red Bull to identify the precise underlying problem before taking any corrective measures.
To begin with, the first step is to comprehend the nature of the problem. Once this is achieved, one can proceed to identify the appropriate solution.
There is a possibility that this fix may be included in this year’s upgrade package.
“It is an ongoing journey,” he expressed. “Naturally, as you delve into the law of diminishing returns, and of course, your priorities shift according to the challenges you face.”
There will likely be a significant shift in focus towards understanding the reasons behind the ride issues and the car’s struggle on the kerbs.
“The VCARB car is currently operating with the same suspension as last year, and it appears to be free from the previous issues. Therefore, we must determine whether we have introduced any new factors.”
The result of the Monaco Grand Prix meant race winner Charles Leclerc clashed Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 31 points with Ferrari 24 down in the teams’ standings.
Horner stated that there is still a significant distance to cover and emphasized that they have never assumed anything in the championship.
“It is evident that the outcome of this race is determined on a Saturday, and unfortunately, we had a subpar performance on that day. Additionally, it is worth noting that we faced difficulties on Friday as well.”
In order to comprehend the problems with the ride and the kerbs, we now possess an extensive amount of data that we will examine thoroughly to resolve them before the upcoming races.
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