During the qualifying session of the Monaco Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, narrowly avoids colliding with the barrier.
Rivals dreaming of a title fight will be disappointed as Allard Kalff believes everyone is “pretending that it is all dramatic” but it really isn’t – Red Bull will win again and very soon.
Losing two of the last three Grands Prix, Miami and Monaco, and pushed to the chequered flag in Imola, Max Verstappen declared in Monaco that Red Bull had been “found out”.
Are Red Bull woes being over-hyped?
Red Bull’s F1 car has recently faced a significant challenge as its competitors, including Ferrari and McLaren, have narrowed the gap. This has unveiled a crucial flaw in the car’s design, particularly in its inability to effectively handle kerbs and bumps.
However, Verstappen claims that this issue has existed since 2022, but in the past, their superiority over competitors concealed it.
He stated that this problem has been persistent since 2022 and we have enjoyed a car advantage for the past two years.
“So, the effect is somewhat concealed as our performance improves in the curved and bumpy corners where limitations are less prominent. However, as others catch up, it becomes evident that neglecting to enhance our weakest aspect exposes our shortcomings.”
Helmut Marko admits it is an issue that could also affect the team in Canada with the Red Bull motorsport advisor predicting Montreal could be “a difficult weekend for us”.
However, Dutch racing driver Kalff believes that the hype surrounding the potential end of Red Bull’s dominance and a title fight in 2024 is premature. He suggests that Verstappen will reclaim his position on the top step of the podium in Canada, dismissing the claims made by Red Bull’s rivals and non-fans.
Kalff mentioned to Viaplay’s In the Slipstream that we shouldn’t overreact. He believed that Max’s outstanding performance in Shanghai and Suzuka shouldn’t be disregarded suddenly.
“If Max hadn’t knocked over that bollard, he could have easily won in Miami as well, considering the circuit-dependency.”
If Max manages to finish his lap during qualifying, he would secure a position on the front row and place second, right after Leclerc. In that scenario, your perspective would likely change significantly.
“We are currently engaging in a dramatic pretense, but let us first anticipate the outcomes in Canada and Barcelona. In Canada, he has the potential to emerge victorious, and similarly, he is bound to triumph in Barcelona.”
The 2024 F1 championship standings without Red Bull
The F1 2024 Drivers’ Championship standings without Max Verstappen
Revealed: The F1 2024 Constructors’ Championship without Red Bull
‘Red Bull have one who is not even participating’
On the other hand, Kees van der Grint, his fellow pundit, believes that Red Bull’s main vulnerability in the title battle lies with Sergio Perez.
Verstappen surpasses Perez in terms of Grand Prix wins, having achieved five victories compared to Perez’s four. Additionally, Perez trails behind his teammate with 107 points, while his teammate has accumulated 169 points.
With Red Bull just 24 points ahead of Ferrari, the Mexican driver’s form could yet cost Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship.
In the last two qualifying sessions at Imola and Monte Carlo, Perez has failed to secure a spot within the top ten. This has resulted in Verstappen being left near the front of the grid without any support.
Former Bridgestone tyre engineer van der Grint remarked that while the car is less dominant, it was also the case last year. However, he pointed out that the competition was not as formidable as it is now.
Kalff added, “And now they currently possess four rivals!”
In response, Van der Grint stated, “The other two teams possess two skilled drivers, while Red Bull has one exceptional driver and another who is not even involved.”
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