Bulls see red

Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner is under immense pressure following a disappointing Italian Grand Prix, admitting they need to ‘turn the situation around’ to avoid losing their championship lead.

Last weekend, after a difficult qualifying session, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez started the race in seventh and eighth, respectively.

Despite their best efforts, the duo were unable to match the pace of Ferrari and McLaren, finishing in sixth and eighth.

Verstappen, frustrated with the team’s performance, suggested that ‘basically changing the whole car’ might be necessary to address the underlying issues.

McLaren’s strong finish in Monza, with both cars on the podium, has narrowed Red Bull’s lead in the constructors’ championship to just eight points.

Horner acknowledged that the RB20 is struggling with a ‘very clear issue’ that has been exposed at the Italian Grand Prix. He emphasised the urgency of addressing this problem to avoid further losses in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

“With the pace that we had today, both championships absolutely will be under pressure, for sure,” Horner said after the race. “We have to turn the situation around very quickly.”

Horner explained that the team’s balance issues have been exacerbated on certain tracks, leading to a ‘vicious circle’ of compensating for one problem only to create another.

He admitted that Red Bull had been grappling with these issues since the beginning of the season, but the problems have become more apparent as the team has pushed the car harder.

“I think it’s been there for some time,” Horner said.

“I think actually, really going through the data, there [were] issues there at the beginning of the year in the characteristics.

“I think others have obviously made a step, and as we’ve pushed the package harder it’s exposed the issue.”

Horner also revealed that the team has faced challenges in accurately identifying the problem through their simulation tools, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

With Red Bull now facing a significant challenge from their rivals, Horner highlighted the importance of understanding the issue and implementing solutions before the next race in Baku.

“The most important thing is understanding the issue, and I think there are certain fixes that potentially can be introduced, perhaps not to resolve the whole issue but address some of it,” Horner added.

“I think we have a two-week period before Baku and Singapore and then we have another mini-break where we can work in-between Singapore and Austin, so this time now is crucial.”