Red Bull Faces Set-Up Issues with Verstappen’s Car Ahead of F1 Season Opener
Red Bull Racing encountered unexpected challenges during pre-season testing in Bahrain, with insiders reportedly finding an “alarming” issue with Max Verstappen’s RB20. While the Dutch driver remained dominant in 2023, winning nearly every race, Red Bull’s grip on the Constructors’ Championship was dramatically broken.
During testing, McLaren emerged as the strongest team, but the gap between Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes remained tight. However, a major concern for Red Bull was the RB20’s handling and its response to set-up adjustments. Reports suggest that the car didn’t react as expected, raising concerns ahead of the first race of the season.
Sergio Perez’s struggles continued, as he finished nearly 300 points behind Verstappen last year, and the early signs with the RB20 indicate that he may face further difficulties. Red Bull also recorded the fewest laps of any team over the three days of testing, suggesting reliability issues that could hinder their performance.
Despite their testing struggles, Red Bull remains a strong contender, but whether their rivals were holding back performance remains to be seen. With the season opener in Bahrain approaching, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Red Bull to see if they can resolve their handling issues and maintain their dominance.
