Christian Horner has stated that Red Bull Racing’s biggest challenge for the Brazilian Grand Prix is to match McLaren’s strong end-of-stint pace. After struggling with tyre performance in Mexico, the team aims to understand and rectify these issues, especially as Ferrari has surpassed them in the constructors’ standings following recent races.
Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, has identified the primary challenge his team faces at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix as the need to match the strong end-of-stint pace demonstrated by competitors McLaren. Following a disappointing performance in the Mexican Grand Prix, where both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri excelled in managing their tyre strategies, Red Bull’s own driver, Max Verstappen, expressed frustration over his car’s lack of grip, particularly during his medium and hard tyre stints. After receiving two ten-second penalties, Verstappen struggled to regain momentum, finishing outside the top five. Horner acknowledged that Red Bull’s challenge is to resolve the tyre performance issues that hindered their pace, stating, “I think that is the biggest thing that we need to take away from here. More so on the hard tyre, we just didn’t have the same pace. Max had no grip; we didn’t feel we could switch the tyres on. So that’s the biggest challenge in the next four days, to understand what caused that.” The recent success of Ferrari, following a victory for Carlos Sainz and a third-place finish for Leclerc, has propelled them above Red Bull in the constructors’ championship standings. In light of this, Horner remarked on the challenges ahead, emphasizing the team’s commitment to continue fighting: “We never give up. We’ll fight very hard. We need both cars, obviously, scoring.” As Red Bull prepares for Brazil, they must address their race pace concerns in order to reclaim their competitive edge against both McLaren and Ferrari.
In the realm of Formula 1, tire management and race pace significantly influence a team’s performance during a Grand Prix weekend. Red Bull Racing, known for its dominance in previous seasons, has encountered difficulties in maintaining race pace compared to rivals like McLaren and Ferrari, particularly at the end of races. In the recent Mexican Grand Prix, drivers from McLaren showcased exceptional tyre preservation strategies leading to strong finishes, which further complicated Red Bull’s position in the constructors’ standings as they now trail Ferrari. The upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix presents an opportunity for Red Bull to reassess and improve their strategies to regain a competitive advantage.
In conclusion, Red Bull Racing faces a significant hurdle ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, particularly in matching the late-race performance exhibited by McLaren. With their constructors’ championship position under threat from Ferrari, the team must address critical issues regarding tyre performance and race pace. Horner’s commitment to improving these factors will be vital if they wish to regain their top-tier status in the current season.
Original Source: www.motorsport.com
