Crucial period for Red Bull: Verstappen must now make the difference
General
- Ludo van Denderen
Courtesy of Logan Sargeant. While Lando Norris was building an ever-widening gap towards Max Verstappen and George Russell at the Canadian Grand Prix - it was eventually as much as 11 seconds to the Red Bull driver - the Williams driver put his car into the wall in an unfortunate spot. It was just that extra bit of luck that Verstappen needed: he then had an advantage with his pit stop over Norris, was able to restart the race first and eventually also managed to cross the line as an otherwise unthreatened winner.
Friend and foe alike would surely agree that Verstappen delivered a sterling performance after the restart in Montreal. Again his RB20 was not optimal, it was mainly due to the Dutchman's qualities that Red Bull could celebrate victory in another difficult weekend. Another stroke of luck: Charles Leclerc had a dramatic day with his Ferrari and crashed out. The difference in the standings between Verstappen and number two Leclerc has increased to 56 points, in the Dutchman's favour.
Horner saw turbulent races
As Christian Horner put it afterwards, Red Bull have had some turbulent races. But the balance, the team principal said, was: of the last three Grands Prix, two were won by Verstappen, though. He is right, but that is a bit of scoreboard journalism. The fact is that Red Bull struggled exceptionally for the fourth race in a row in a race that Norris would probably have made without the Sargeant incident (although Verstappen would have won in Miami had the safety car worked properly).
Verstappen has a nice margin towards Leclerc and Norris in the championship standings, but it is and remains sport. Such a margin is anything but a certainty of the title, especially if Red Bull does not get the car optimally prepared. All the more important for Red Bull are the upcoming races; Barcelona, Silverstone, Spielberg, Hungary. These Grands Prix will be run on circuits that should suit the RB20 extremely well. Inside Red Bull is aware that the next few weeks should make the final difference.
"Because we know the circuits later in the year, like Singapore and so on, it could be a factor," Horner said. "We really expect Ferrari and McLaren certainly, and Mercedes came into that window this weekend, to be competitive at every circuit. So, despite the fact that we've won six out of the nine races. I think we're going to have to be really at the top of our game to keeping out a gap."
Progress on the kerbs
It will not be up to Verstappen. As in recent years, he is in top form. Everything is going to depend on the RB20; its reliability and how Red Bull can continue to develop the car. There is still some time before the next street circuits are on the calendar, which gives Red Bull some breathing space to tackle the kerbs problem. "All of it has to work in tandem. So, of course, you're pushing the aerodynamic platform. You're pushing the platform of the car, but you want the car to ride kerbs," Horner said.
"What was encouraging is our sector three this weekend was competitive. Even with the stiffness of the car rattling over that last chicane. If you look throughout the running, we were very competitive there. So despite it being uncomfortable, we've still managed to be quick enough. I think there's genuine performance there. If we can unlock that, then we'll free up lap time," Horner is convinced.