October 17th 2024.
Max Verstappen has been eagerly searching for a victory since June, when he last won at the Spanish GP. After a four-week break, the excitement of Formula One is back with three consecutive races in the Americas, starting with this weekend's highly-anticipated showdown in Austin, Texas. The United States Grand Prix is also a sprint race weekend, meaning the stakes are high and there's little time for the drivers and team personnel to take a break. They'll have to hit the ground running right from the start.
As we head into the home stretch of the season, Verstappen still holds the lead in the championship standings. However, his once dominant Red Bull team has faced some setbacks, losing their position at the top of the constructors' championship to McLaren and feeling the pressure from Ferrari and Mercedes. With only six races left, the Dutchman is 52 points ahead of Lando Norris, who has been gaining momentum and recently won the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position.
The departure of key technical personnel and the impending exits of design guru Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley have caused some turbulence within the team. There seems to be a sense of panic as they struggle to maintain their position at the top. While they have made it clear that Sergio Perez will remain their second driver for the rest of the season, if their performance continues to decline, he may become a scapegoat and his contract for next year could be canceled.
Newey's departure has coincided with a decline in Red Bull's form, and they are desperately seeking answers. Team principal Christian Horner acknowledges that their opponents have strong line-ups, and he is determined to ensure that there is not a big gap between Verstappen and Perez in terms of performance. However, with Perez having less than half the points of Verstappen, it's clear that the team needs to address their underlying issues.
Verstappen may have won the last three races at the Circuit of the Americas, but this weekend he is facing some challenges. Horner is demanding answers not just from the drivers, but also from the team as they try to understand why their car is underperforming. The RB20 has developed balance issues, possibly due to a new floor introduced earlier in the season. These issues are affecting the car's performance, causing problems with the tires and lap times. For the first time since 2020, Verstappen is not driving with complete confidence, as he navigates corners with hesitation.
The team's set-up and tire management must be precise in order to be competitive, and if they miss the mark, the car simply cannot keep up with the rest of the field. Interestingly, these problems emerged just a month after Newey stepped back from his role in F1 car development to focus on Red Bull's commercial hypercar project. If the team's performance continues to decline next season, it's unlikely that Verstappen will stick around until the end of his contract in 2028. However, for now, his focus remains on fixing this year's car and trying to secure the championship title.
In the midst of these challenges, there have been rumors about Verstappen's future with the team. When asked about the possibility of leaving before his contract ends, he brushed it off, stating that his main concern is the current season and he's not thinking about the future. He also made it clear that winning the title in 2024 is not his sole focus and it won't change his life if it doesn't happen. As we look ahead to the upcoming races, the pressure is on for Verstappen and Red Bull to turn things around and reclaim their dominant position in the sport.
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