Formula 1 News: Verstappen Confident Red Bull Can Overcome Kerb-Riding Woes without Aerodynamic Compromise

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 champion, is adamant that Red Bull can resolve its long-standing kerb-riding weakness without sacrificing the aerodynamic strengths of its RB20 car. The Dutch driver’s conviction comes after Red Bull’s recent struggles with absorbing bumps and kerbs, which has threatened its dominance in the sport.

Verstappen’s Optimism and Red Bull’s Efforts

Although Verstappen secured another win in Canada, he acknowledged that the issue is still limiting Red Bull’s potential. However, he believes that the Austrian team can find a solution without compromising on its aerodynamic prowess.

“I really think that we can solve this without influencing any other part of the car,” Verstappen stated.

The Canadian Grand Prix, which took place on a rain-soaked Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, saw Verstappen’s kerb-riding woes minimalized.

“Today, it’s more like, what kerb riding, because I felt that was non-existent in the race [with the rain],” he added.

Verstappen emphasized that Red Bull is working tirelessly to address the issue, aware that it’s a significant performance limitation.

“We know that this is a weakness, and I also know that we are flat out working on it to try and fix it, because I really feel like it’s quite a big performance limitation for us at the moment,” he said.

Red Bull’s Balancing Act

In addition to Verstappen’s optimism, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner concurred that the Canadian Grand Prix showed signs of improvement compared to Monaco. Horner highlighted Verstappen’s competitiveness through the last chicane, where riding the kerbs is crucial for lap time.

Horner explained that a balance is needed between the aerodynamic platform and the car’s ability to ride kerbs.

“All of it has to work in tandem, so you are pushing the aerodynamic platform of the car, but you want the car to ride kerbs,” he said. “What was encouraging was that our sector three this weekend was competitive, even with the stiffness of the car rattling over that last chicane.”

With Verstappen and Horner sharing a similar vision, Red Bull is poised to make significant strides in addressing its kerb-riding weakness. As Formula 1 moves forward, fans can expect exciting developments in the team’s quest for aerodynamic perfection.

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