Max Verstappen has expressed his support for Red Bull’s decision to take a bold approach with their 2024 Formula 1 car. Verstappen stated that he had no worries when he learned that the team would be implementing various innovations on their new challenger. Red Bull has been dominant in F1 since the reintroduction of ground effect aero in 2022, winning almost every race last season and securing both championships comfortably. While it was expected that the team would make minor adjustments to their title-winning RB19, they surprised everyone by unveiling a range of radical modifications. One notable change is the sidepod structure, which features a vertical slot inlet reminiscent of Mercedes’ ‘zeropod’ solution. Verstappen, who aims to secure his fourth consecutive title in 2024, expressed his complete trust in Red Bull’s development choices as they strive to maintain their position at the top of the sport. When asked if he had any concerns when he first tried out the RB20, Verstappen replied that he trusts the team to make the right decisions regarding the car’s direction. He emphasized that the appearance of the car is not important to him as long as it is fast. Verstappen added that once he got behind the wheel, he could quickly determine if the car felt normal or not. Although his filming day at Silverstone was wet, he felt that the car performed as expected. Verstappen acknowledged that the car looks different but believes that the team has chosen the best direction to pursue. He also mentioned that his role is to provide feedback on the car’s balance and suggest areas for improvement, which is an ongoing process. When asked if he thinks the current concept has more potential than its predecessor, Verstappen stated that the team believes there is untapped potential in the car, and it is now their responsibility to unlock it.
Red Bull had a promising start to pre-season testing as Verstappen outpaced his closest competitor by more than a second on the first day in Bahrain.
Verstappen expressed his satisfaction with the day, stating that he couldn’t have asked for more. He even joked that he had wished for fewer laps. However, he completed a significant number of laps and everything went smoothly. The car’s balance was excellent, and they experimented with various adjustments to help Verstappen better understand the car’s performance.
The Dutch driver also mentioned that he quickly adapted to the updated RB20 and didn’t encounter any unexpected surprises. They started with some routine aero tests, allowing Verstappen to ease into the session gradually. He emphasized that it’s not about pushing the car to its limits right from the start, but rather building up to it. The experience on the simulator also matched the on-track performance, further reinforcing Verstappen’s confidence in the car.
While other teams suggest that Red Bull remains the team to beat, Verstappen acknowledges that every team has made progress with their cars compared to last year. He jokingly commented that if their car was worse than last year’s, they would have done a terrible job. Overall, Verstappen is confident that Red Bull has improved, but he expects tough competition from the entire grid.
According to the Source motorsportweek.com