Max Verstappen remains dissatisfied with his Red Bull RB21. After two Grand Prix, the Dutchman is in second place in the championship. Nevertheless, in the run-up to the Japanese Grand Prix, he expressed some concern about his deficient vehicle. On the opening day at Suzuka, it became clear once again that he is falling behind rival McLaren – and it may not stop there.
During the first free practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen secured the fifth place. In the second session, which was disrupted by no less than four red flags, he had to tolerate Racing Bulls drivers ahead of him. “It’s very strange, the car is moving all over the place,” came the reigning champion’s voice over the radio. Prior to these initial trials on the Japanese asphalt, Verstappen explained that Red Bull is working hard on a solution.
“We are focusing on improving the car’s handling,” Verstappen told the media in Suzuka. After the Chinese Grand Prix, he traveled to the factory in Milton Keynes to search for an explanation for the imbalance with the engineers. “We’re not there yet, but work is definitely being done. We had good meetings at the factory. The car needs a thorough overhaul – we want to find more balance and ultimately squeeze more pace out of this package.”
Work in Progress
According to experts, the RB21 loses a lot of time when entering and exiting corners. Such a problem is not easily resolved. “You try to work on one component, but that can have negative consequences elsewhere,” Sergio Pérez explained. “The goal is to find a middle ground. Ultimately, it’s a combination of many things – it all depends on the speed in the corner, the asphalt, the tire temperature, any bumps, kerbstones. It’s very diverse.”
Red Bull’s cars have ‘broken’ several drivers in the past. Sergio Pérez had to make way last year, and this week Liam Lawson was sacrificed. Verstappen understands that the RB21 can pose a challenge for his teammates. “It’s hard to explain, because I’m used to this car,” he assessed. “From what I can see, it’s a bit more nervous or unstable in certain corners. This can make it difficult to complete a full lap. In the end, everyone is doing their utmost to make the car faster. As it becomes more competitive, it will also become easier for the second driver.”
