Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc are the names of the individuals.
Red Bull may have the advantage in the F1 2024 standings, but the last few races have shown Formula 1 is in a “rat race” with big swings predicted.
In Miami, McLaren initiated the F1 2024 development competition by unleashing the upgraded MCL38 ‘2.0’ on the racetrack. This resulted in Lando Norris securing his first-ever grand prix victory with a significant lead of seven seconds over Max Verstappen.
F1 2024 will just be a rat race with upgrades’
At the following race in Imola, the reigning World Champion reclaimed his position on the top step of the podium. However, Norris fiercely pursued him and finished the race with a gap of less than a second.
After one race had passed, it was Ferrari who celebrated their victory as Charles Leclerc raced his upgraded SF-24 to first place, finishing ahead of Norris and Carlos Sainz.
Verstappen, considering his usual performance, found himself in a disappointing P6 position due to the challenges posed by the street circuit’s kerbs and bumps, which proved difficult for his RB20 and its rigid suspension.
The Monaco result marked Red Bull’s third defeat of this season, a sharp contrast to last year’s one in 22 races, while Ferrari are up to two wins with Leclerc just 31 points behind Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship.
However, NOS F1 pundit Louis Dekker is of the opinion that “something is changing” in Formula 1, but he highly doubts that Ferrari will be able to contend for the title.
Dekker commented, “I have my doubts, but one should never completely rule it out. Alternatively, one could argue that Red Bull has already experienced three losses this year, which was not the case last year. Therefore, it indicates a shift or change happening.”
“But henceforth, it shall merely be a relentless competition for advancements. Every subsequent update possesses the power to transform a P5 into a formidable P1.”
Nevertheless, Red Bull’s competitors remain concerned about the RB20’s performance on certain tracks. Barcelona, for instance, is expected to be a walk in the park for Red Bull, with a potential one-two finish.
The 2024 championship races without Red Bull
The F1 2024 Drivers’ Championship standings without Max Verstappen
Revealed: The F1 2024 Constructors’ Championship without Red Bull
‘The picture of competitiveness for Red Bull is not entirely clear’
However, despite Red Bull’s competitors hoping that this year’s outcomes indicate a shift in power, they are not prepared to make room on the mantel for additional trophies just yet.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella expressed his confusion about the level of competitiveness projected by Red Bull’s image.
I’m not entirely certain about what’s happening with Red Bull. It may require a few more races to truly understand the situation.
“Clearly, our next destination in Canada presents another challenging course that heavily relies on navigating kerbs and bumps. Subsequently, the upcoming tracks following Canada will provide further insights into the level of competitiveness.”
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur informed the media, including PlanetF1.com, that both Ferrari and McLaren have significantly reduced Red Bull’s pace advantage.
He said, “Last year, there was a significant difference between us. Sometimes we can compete with them in qualifying, but during the race, they had a lead of around four or five tenths.”
When you are around four or five tenths behind, it does not pose a significant risk. For instance, in the Jeddah qualifying session, Max began at P9 but swiftly advanced to the lead within three laps.
However, things have changed this season. It’s not just us, but even Red Bull and McLaren are closer now.
Read next: ‘In Mercedes’ slipstream’ – Pundit jokes about Red Bull’s Monaco issues
