In a Stunning Admission, Max Verstappen Concedes Red Bull’s Waning Championship Hopes
Verstappen Voices Concerns over Red Bull’s Crippling Balance Issues
Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has conceded that both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships are slipping out of Red Bull’s grasp, citing the team’s inability to resolve its crippling balance issues with the RB20 car.
Verstappen’s struggles were evident during the recent race, where he qualified a dismal seventh and could only manage to climb to sixth place by the finish, trailing behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by nearly 38 seconds and McLaren’s Lando Norris by over 30 seconds.
“At the moment, both championships are not realistic,” Verstappen bluntly stated. “We need a lot of changes with the car, because we basically went from a very dominant car to an undriveable car in the space of six to eight months.”
Verstappen’s concerns stem from Red Bull’s failure to address its balance problems, which have plagued the team since May. The once-dominant RB20 has become a “monster” to drive, according to Verstappen, and urgent changes are needed to turn the car’s fortunes around.
Red Bull Holds Emergency Talks, Verstappen Demands Drastic Overhaul
The team held emergency talks on Saturday to discuss the necessary steps to rectify the situation, but Verstappen is adamant that he has already warned the team about the car’s handling behaviour for several months.
“It was quite clear for everyone what we have to do – it’s just now we have to turn it around,” he explained.
Verstappen is calling for a complete overhaul of the car, saying, “We need to turn the car upside down. With how we are at the moment, we are bad everywhere, so we need a lot of changes.” Verstappen’s frustration is palpable, and he’s not willing to accept anything less than a drastic improvement.
Championship Hopes Hanging in the Balance
Red Bull’s constructors’ lead has also taken a hit, with McLaren closing the gap to just eight points. The pressure is on for the team to find a solution quickly, with Verstappen demanding that the team works flat out to resolve the issues.
“It doesn’t matter how many weeks [it takes], we have to just keep pushing and work flat out. There’s no excuse.”
As the Formula 1 calendar moves forward, Verstappen’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the importance of teams staying on top of their game. With the next Grand Prix just around the corner, Red Bull must act fast to salvage its championship hopes.
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