Red Bull has suffered two defeats in the 2024 season, compared to just one loss in the previous year. The team’s performance in Milton Keynes was expected to mirror their dominant campaign in 2023, but they have already faced setbacks in two out of the first six races. As a result, rival teams are now challenging Red Bull’s supremacy. In response, the boss of the Ferrari team stated that Red Bull is no longer enjoying the same level of success as they did last year.
Despite these setbacks, Red Bull has still managed to win four out of the six races and is on a similar trajectory to the previous season. However, in 2023, they only lost one race. It is worth noting that Milton Keynes is still considered to be ahead of the rival teams, although this claim is not without its caveats. For instance, if the Safety car had not been deployed during the Miami GP, the outcome could have been different. Furthermore, Max Verstappen’s pole position further showcased his advantage over the competition.
The current situation suggests that Ferrari has been successful in finding the right setup and making in-season developments to challenge Red Bull. The Italian constructor has consistently put pressure on the Austrian team, prompting Vasseur to suggest that a more aggressive strategy is needed in Milton Keynes. He also emphasized that Red Bull can no longer rely on the comfort of their dominance in 2023.
Both McLaren and Ferrari have a good chance of engaging in a late-season battle against Red Bull. To maintain their lead over the rival teams, Milton Keynes will need to keep up with in-season upgrades. Vasseur believes that these updates can be a game changer in terms of race management.
With this in mind, Vasseur sees a great opportunity for Ferrari to close the gap on Red Bull’s strong start. Through incremental upgrades, the Italian constructor is becoming more optimistic about achieving better results. Vasseur believes that Ferrari can now compete with Red Bull on a consistent basis throughout the season.
Ferrari has already secured one race win out of the six races so far, and they will aim to win more as the season progresses. The dominance of Red Bull may soon be challenged by McLaren and Maranello, making the 2024 season and the upcoming seasons highly exciting for fans.