The technical challenge lies in the RB20's design: to maximize downforce, the car needs a very stiff suspension, but this makes it unstable over bumps. Red Bull is currently developing a fix, which Verstappen believes will lead to a major jump in overall speed. He admitted that their current struggle with kerbs is a significant hurdle that, if cleared, could improve the car's performance by a substantial margin.
Max Verstappen has warned Red Bull’s opponents that there are “big” gains to be achieved with the RB20, as long as the team addresses its kerb-riding concerns. Following Red Bull’s dominance last season, when they won all but one grand prix on their way to a championship double, their rivals are closing up. McLaren won in Miami before Lando Norris pushed Verstappen to the finish line in Imola, and Ferrari won in Australia and Monaco.
Verstappen believes this specific weakness can be fixed without compromising other aspects of the car's setup. He emphasized that the team is working tirelessly on the issue because it currently acts as a ceiling on their potential. Even with these setbacks, Verstappen managed to secure victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, marking his sixth win of the year and stretching his championship lead over Charles Leclerc to 56 points.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner noted that they've already seen progress in Montreal, where the car maintained its speed despite the bumps. He explained the delicate balance required: they need to push the aerodynamic limits while ensuring the car can still handle the physical jolts of the track.
Horner pointed to the third sector in Montreal as a positive sign, noting that they remained competitive even when the car's stiffness made the final chicane a bumpy ride. He concluded that while the car might be uncomfortable for the driver, the raw pace is still there.
Lewis Hamilton believes his championship success wouldn't have happened if he had remained with McLaren
The biggest challenge facing Valentino Rossi's MotoGP squad during the 2024 season