Red Bull’s RB20 challenges as only Verstappen can master its quirks.
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has characterised the RB20 as a “devil” that only Max Verstappen “can tame”!
Bold words as the Milton Keynes-based team heads into this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix with a slim 42-point lead over McLaren, which now boasts the most consistent and robust car on the grid.
For the first time since the introduction of the current regulations in 2022, Red Bull does not have the dominant car, with both Verstappen and Sergio Perez facing challenges with the RB20.
It was a different story in the early races, as Verstappen clinched four of the first five races, while Perez also drove with assurance.
But something has shifted for Red Bull recently, with Marko unsure where a misstep occurred.
“At the start of the season, we had a car as balanced as the McLaren is now.”
“It could handle any track and any conditions. Then we took a wrong turn somewhere. The car became a real devil that only Max can tame.”
“The engineers have made the car increasingly unpredictable. It has become increasingly difficult to adjust and balance.”
“When the car’s responses become more predictable again, Sergio will also regain his speed.”
The reigning world champion has been compelled to grapple with the RB20, yet still managed to set the fastest time in qualifying by a considerable margin in both Austria and Belgium.
Marko has expressed high regard for Verstappen’s Q3 laps and has likened the Austrian team’s form to that of Mercedes earlier in the season.
“Those qualifying laps were special for Max. In the race, the dominance was lost.”
“Like Mercedes at the start of the year, we are sometimes fast and sometimes slow depending on the conditions. Sometimes during the same race, like at Silverstone, where it rained in between.”
Verstappen has failed to secure a victory in the last four races and has only achieved one podium since his win at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Several factors have played against him, as Marko pointed out.
“We are better than our recent results suggest. Without the poor pit stop at Spielberg, the collision with Hamilton in Hungary, and the grid penalty at Spa, Max would be in a better position.”
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RB20: Verstappen’s Devil to Tame Red Bull Admits Misstep RB20: Verstappen’s Devil to Tame Red Bull Admits Misstep
