Monaghan: RB20 Doesn't Flatter Verstappen's True Skill

Red Bull’s chief engineer Monaghan reveals the RB20 is rigorously tested to uphold a consistent lap advantage.

Red Bull does not believe that Max Verstappen is extracting more from the RB20 2024 than the single-seater is capable of offering. The gap with Sergio Pérez often prompts assertions that the triple world champion is significantly better than the car’s true value, yet Red Bull’s chief engineer, Paul Monaghan, does not subscribe to this theory.

“The work on the car is relentless,” Monaghan stated. “If we refer to last year, that’s the standard we’ve set ourselves to gain a modest lap advantage everywhere and to maintain it, which does make things somewhat tighter.”

“Max might well consider it, but I don’t believe the car flatters him. If he’s pushing harder to achieve a result in the race because others are closer, then that’s the nature of the competition, isn’t it?”

Monaghan hopes that Pérez’s strong qualifying performance in Belgium will boost his confidence: “I am pleased to see that Checo performed so well in the Belgian qualifiers, securing second on the grid, and it’s wonderful for him and for the team.”

“I saw in this debrief a driver who was comfortable in his own skin, and you think ‘well done mate, nicely done’. There are many detractors, and the only one who could stop him was himself, and he managed it brilliantly.”

“I found it took a great deal of courage to pull through the rain-hit qualifiers and do that, so I hope it brings him great comfort and that he keeps it up. He can drive it; none of them are lagging when they reach this level.”