Red Bull Formula 1 boss Chrisitan Horner believes last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix exposed a potential weakness with its RB20 car on front-limited circuits.
Front tyre wear and heavy graining were the pitfalls plaguing the entirety of the F1 grid Down Under at Albert Park, where Carlos Sainz ultimately rose victorious following Max Verstappen’s early-race DNF.
Yet with the likes of Sergio Perez claiming Verstappen would have struggled to match Sainz and Ferrari had he finished the Grand Prix, there are signs the Red Bull RB20 isn’t the all-conquering, all-rounder some thought it was.
The last time Ferrari and Red Bull went toe-to-toe for outright victory was the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, another venue where graining was prevalent and a Safety Car intervention aided Verstappen’s run to beat Charles Leclerc to victory.
“It’s an area that Ferrari is particularly strong, so it’s probably no coincidence that they were strong in Vegas and they’ve been strong here,” Horner said following the Australian GP.
“So it’s certainly an area I think that we’ll need to improve on front limited circuits.
“It’s a very front limited circuit here I think the nature of the surface as well I think that the tyre graining here in particular was something that Ferrari looked in control of, certainly from Friday their long runs look good.
“I think we did a good job to understand the issues with our car; it’s just a shame and we only got a full lap sample.”
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur was also presented with the Vegas/Albert Park comparison and elected to praise the Scuderia’s development with tyre management.
“It’s true that we are probably in a good shape in this situation, but on the tyre management last weekend we were able to do the fastest lap on the last lap in Jeddah,” Vasseur said.
“And it’s shown also that we are going in the right direction on the management of the stints.”
Red Bull’s front-limit weakness will be put to the test once again next weekend (April 05-07) thanks to the fast-sweeping curves of Suzuka, setting the stage for another weekend-long duel with Ferrari.
For F1’s doomsayers who predicted a sweeping Red Bull domination once again in 2024, the way the Australian GP unfolded will be cause for optimism going forward.
Thanks to Verstappen’s early retirement in Melbourne, the Japanese GP will be somewhat of a litmus test to investigate whether Horner’s claims will be realised and if Vasseur’s optimism will be rewarded.
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