Ex-Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle is in “no doubt” that “internal events” earlier in 2024 have served to disrupt Red Bull’s dominance as rival teams have edged closer.
Red Bull entered this campaign having won all but one race last term and began this season with four victories from the opening five races, including three 1-2 results.
However, the headlines concerning Red Bull revolved around an investigation into team boss Christian Horner’s behaviour amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Horner was exonerated from those accusations, but Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, claimed that the Briton’s continued presence could threaten to “tear apart” Red Bull.
Verstappen Sr has since urged Red Bull to “start focusing on racing”, with McLaren triumphing in Miami earlier this month and Ferrari winning in Monaco last time out.
The Austrian outfit endured a nightmare weekend in Monte Carlo as Verstappen trailed home in sixth place and revealed that a long-standing weakness was exposed.
But Brundle reckons the saga involving Horner at the beginning of this term has contributed to recent developments threatening Red Bull’s recent impenetrable status.
“Ferrari and McLaren are on a fine run, both teams and driver pairings looking very cohesive, focused, and well structured.
“This means that Red Bull are very much looking in their rear mirrors in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships and it appears to be game on with so many races to come.
“I have no doubt that the internal events at Red Bull have detracted from their recent performances and they’ll be desperately keen to resume normal service in Montreal next time out.”
However, Brundle’s opinion is not shared inside Red Bull as Horner asserted the team had never taken it “for granted” that it would retain both championships in 2024.
Meanwhile, speaking prior to the Monaco weekend, Verstappen cited how Red Bull’s experience at being involved in title challenges could provide a crucial advantage.
“Being at the front for quite a few years and as a team, the way we operate, I think it can make a difference to teams that are trying to chase that,” Verstappen explained.
“We just try to stay calm and collected, we know that over the last few races teams have been catching up or have beaten us, so of course we want to try and improve as well.
“But I do think with the experience that we’ve had over the last few years, it makes us a very tough team to beat in a Championship, because we don’t make many mistakes.”
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