Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull’s attention in the remaining races this season will be on acquiring lessons for 2025 amid the team’s slim Formula 1 title hopes.
Red Bull has gone into this weekend’s penultimate round in Qatar still with a shot at retaining the Constructors’ Championship that it has won in the past two seasons.
However, the reigning champions are poised to exit contention prior to the final race in Abu Dhabi as it lies in third place, a sizeable 53 points behind leaders McLaren.
Red Bull appeared on course to claim both titles once again this term until an incorrect turn in development with the RB20 incited issues it has been unable to resolve.
But while Verstappen wrapped up the Drivers’ Championship with two rounds remaining in Las Vegas, Sergio Perez’s woes have all but ruled out a title double in 2024.
Verstappen has revealed that Red Bull will be looking to use the closing events as a chance to validate the areas that the side believes need addressing with the RB21.
Asked whether the upcoming races were more about obtaining useful knowledge for 2025, Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week: “Yeah, I think so.
“I mean, just trying to learn more about the car.
“Some things we already know that we want to change for next year, but maybe we find some other things in the car that can be better for next year.
“Because, of course, looking at the last races that we’ve had, we’ve not been the quickest, so I don’t expect that to suddenly change here.”
Verstappen on Perez’s struggles
The updates that Red Bull introduced in Austin last month haven’t inspired a return to its previous heights, but did succeed in stabilising the RB20’s balance problems.
However, Perez has continued to struggle in the sister Red Bull to the point where he claimed his Q1 exit in Las Vegas was down to a “fundamental issue” with his car.
Verstappen reiterated he has also not been satisfied with his car’s handling this term, but he argued that it is also down to the driver to best deal with those obstacles.
“We were always talking, speaking, trying to improve the car,” Verstappen added regarding Perez’s troubles.
“I also did not enjoy the car for most of the season in terms of handling. But you have to deal with that. Try to overcome the difficulties.
“Discuss with the engineers how we can improve the situation. That’s what we have done.
“The car has been a lot more driveable lately. But we’re still lacking a bit of performance to win races. But that’s how it is.
“We just now need to try and find performance in the car. But it’s been a difficult season for both of us in terms of driving the car in some places.”
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