Red Bull's Challenges During the Hungarian Grand Prix

Jul 22, 2024

Red Bull's Challenges During the Hungarian Grand Prix

Overview

  • Max Verstappen's critical assessment of the upgraded 2024 Red Bull during the Hungarian GP.
  • Increasing tension within the Red Bull team due to lack of victories and internal disagreements.
  • Introduction of Red Bull's biggest upgrade of the season failed to deliver expected results.

Key Points

Verstappen's Frustrations

  • Verstappen has been frustrated for months with the car's performance.
  • Voiced concerns that not everyone in the team is aligned on addressing Red Bull's issues.
  • The car's stiff ride and sensitivity to different track conditions are major concerns.
  • Growing competitive pressure from McLaren and Mercedes.

Red Bull's Upgrade at Hungarian GP

  • The major upgrade centered on a new engine cover Bodywork.
  • Verstappen unhappy with the performance despite upgrades.
  • Red Bull's struggles with finding the car's performance peak at some tracks.

In-Race Struggles

  • Verstappen's radio exchanges with the team highlighted his dissatisfaction.
  • Criticized strategy and had disagreements during the race about incidents with Lewis Hamilton.
  • Ended the race in fifth place, indicating a concerning trend for Red Bull.

Strategic Decisions and Challenges

Upgrade Components

  • The new Bodywork package was a significant change but only available to Verstappen due to limited parts.
  • Sergio Perez ran other parts of the upgrade excluding the bodywork.
  • The new Bodywork aimed to improve cooling efficiency and aerodynamics.

Car Performance

  • Despite the visual and structural improvements, performance gains were not as significant.
  • The Red Bull car is becoming tricky to extract consistent performance from, especially on certain tracks.
  • Issues with car balance and sensitivity remained evident during the Hungarian GP.

Competition from Rivals

McLaren and Mercedes

  • McLaren's improved performance, particularly Norris and Piastri, poses a significant challenge.
  • Mercedes also showing signs of being a strong competitor, particularly at future tracks like Spa.

Possible Personnel Changes

  • Speculation about Sergio Perez being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson, or Yuki Tsunoda.

Future Outlook

  • Red Bull anticipates more challenges before the August break, including potential grid penalties.
  • Verstappen's prediction of a challenging second half of the season.

Conclusion

  • Red Bull faces a tough battle ahead with internal team alignment, car performance issues, and increasing competition from McLaren and Mercedes. The success of upcoming upgrades and strategic decisions will be crucial.