Latest Episode | Cut To The Race Podcast
Unlike last season, where they won all but one race, Red Bull have not had it all their own way so far in 2024.
The Milton-Keynes-based team had the most dominant season that Formula 1 has ever seen in 2023. Of the 22 races last term, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez won a combined 21, with the Dutchman responsible for the vast majority. Over the course of their championship-winning year, the team collected an astonishing 860 points, more than double the total of Mercedes who sat in second place. Alongside this, they had top spot wrapped up with a staggering six races remaining, breaking the previous record of five which was set by McLaren in 1988. It could be argued that the disappointing showings of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren made it easier for the six-time champions in 2023. However, that by no means takes away from Red Bull’s achievement, which will remain one of the most impressive in motorsport history.
After such a flawless year, much of the same was expected in 2024…
Eyeing further records
After winning the final seven grands prix of 2023, Verstappen carried his domination into this season. To kick-start the campaign, the Dutchman won both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix by a commanding margin, cementing his place atop the World Drivers’ Championship Standings once gain.
Red Bull’s control over the remainder of the grid was further strengthened by the early performances of Perez. The Mexican driver finished as the runner-up in both of the first two races, meaning the team had claimed maximum points to start off 2024. The team’s onslaught came to a halt in Melbourne as, after starting the race on pole, Verstappen was forced to retire on lap five due to an issue with his right-rear brake. However, this did not loosen the team’s grip on the championship lead, and they went on to win three of the next four races.
After 10 rounds of the season, Red Bull had earnt 330 points, 60 more than their nearest challengers Ferrari. They had also claimed seven grands prix wins and won the only sprint race of the season so far, in China.
? What an amazing weekend here in China ??. The car felt like it was on rails ? @redbullracing! Thank you to all the fans, your support has been overwhelming! ? pic.twitter.com/1CD575xvXv
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) April 21, 2024
Caught by the pack
Unlike the previous two seasons, Red Bull are showing signs of frailty in 2024. In the first 10 races, the Austrian outfit conceded three race victories but were still consistently achieving wins and substantial points. However, in the previous four races, they have shown weaknesses that were not before visible. With the chasing pack catching up to them in this period, Red Bull have massively struggled to challenge for race wins and have often found themselves outside of the podium places. For much of the previous two years, the Milton Keynes-based team have been cruising comfortably at the front of the pack. Since the Austrian Grand Prix though, they have been sucked into wheel-to-wheel skirmishes that they have more often than not come out second best of.
In Austria, Verstappen was persistently put under pressure for the race lead by Lando Norris with the pair getting too close for comfort on several occasions. Unlike prior battles where Verstappen would easily slam the door on his opponent, Norris was fierce in his challenge to the 26-year-old, which ultimately resulted in their collision. The incident ruled Verstappen out of contention for the race win and handed victory to George Russell and Mercedes, who have since been the form team in F1. In all of the next three races before the break, the team struggled to assert their previous dominance and claimed only 63 points.
"THIS RACE HAS BEEN TURNED ON ITS HEAD!!!"
VERSTAPPEN AND NORRIS COLLIDE ? pic.twitter.com/IyvWBGWzG6
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 30, 2024
Fighting on one front, not two
During their recent period of troubles, the team have been able to still pick up a respectable number of points from Verstappen’s performances. However, it must be said that if Red Bull want to maintain their gap at the top of the Constructors’ Championship Standings, they will need Perez to return to top form.
Since his promising start to the year, sitting second in the Drivers’ Championship Standings after five rounds, the Mexican’s results have massively slumped which has been detrimental for the team. In the previous nine grands prix, the 34-year-old has earnt only 49 points, averaging a 10th place finish in that time. This has seen Perez quickly tumble down the Drivers’ Championship Standings, where he now sits in seventh place. Alongside this, the Mexican remains the only driver racing for any of the top four teams to have not won a single race in 2024. Whilst it is well known that Verstappen is Red Bull’s priority driver, the team will require Perez to stop his rut if they are to win a third successive Constructors’ Championship.
LAP 53/70
What has happened to Perez? He makes it back to the pits with a mangled rear wing#F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/IUDDdzXfrh
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 9, 2024
Aims for the final 10?
With the quantity of recent criticism that they have received, it is hard to believe that Red Bull still hold a 42-point lead over McLaren at the top of the Constructors’ Championship Standings. However, carry on their recent form and that gap will quickly diminish.
With the general improvement of McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari this year, the days of Red Bull domination look well behind us. However, the Austrian team will still be looking to keep that pack at arm’s length. Perhaps the easiest solution for this is for Perez to return to consistent top-five finishes. Whilst it cannot be expected that the Mexican finishes on the podium every race, it is mightily important that he contributes a sufficient number of points to the team. This could ultimately be the difference between sailing to the championship and edging ever closer to McLaren and Ferrari.
Alongside improvements for Perez, Red Bull undoubtedly need to start picking up wins again. But what better way to return to action for the championship leaders than a trip to Zandvoort, a circuit at which they have won the previous grand prix?
Feature Image Credit: (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)