“The car has become a b*tch that only Max Verstappen can tame”: Red Bull chief gives honest review of their 2024 F1 challenger’s development 

Red Bull Racing chief Helmut Marko has given a brutal review of the RB20's development trajectory, claiming that only Max Verstappen is capable of taming the beast. Marko's remarks followed the introduction of upgrades for the 2024 model, which appear to have complicated setup procedures.

Ending the 2023 season on a high, the reigning champions began the new season strongly, seemingly poised to continue their dominance. However, the Milton Keynes-based outfit has since lost its edge, with McLaren and Mercedes consistently challenging for victories.

Helmut Marko addressed Red Bull's development trajectory, asserting that the RB20 was well-balanced across different tracks at the beginning of the season. He believes the team has erred in their upgrade strategy this year, resulting in a car that is challenging to handle for all but Max Verstappen.

The 81-year-old Austrian was quoted by the German publication AMuS as saying:

"At the start of the season, we had a car that was as balanced as the McLaren is now. It could handle all tracks and all conditions. Then we took a wrong turn somewhere. The car has become a b*tch that only Max can tame."

"They made the car more and more unpredictable. It became more and more difficult to set it up and balance it," he added

Max Verstappen in the Belgian GP (Source: Getty)

Having adopted a new concept for its 2024 challenger, Red Bull introduced its first upgrade package at Imola, followed by a more comprehensive update in Hungary. While Verstappen remains competitive at the front, his teammate Sergio Perez's results have regressed since the introduction of these upgrades.

Despite Verstappen securing dominant pole positions in Austria and Belgium, Marko attributes these to exceptional qualifying performances from the three-time F1 champion. He also acknowledged a decline in their race pace advantage and expresses confidence in Perez regaining his form once the car becomes more predictable.

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Marko outlines bleak expectations for Max Verstappen's home race in Zandvoort

Formula 1 returns to action this week at Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, Max Verstappen's home race. The Red Bull driver has won the previous three editions of the event, but current trends suggest he will face tough competition this weekend.

During the summer break, Helmut Marko assessed Red Bull's development path and revealed that no upgrade packages were scheduled for the Dutch GP. Here's what he wrote in a recent column for Speedweek.com:

"We have to solve our problems and find out where the problem lies, because we no longer have the balance in the car if you compare the current situation with the first three races."

"I don't think that the big solution will come in Zandvoort. We are brainstorming intensively and have various ideas. But I can't say yet what we will implement and how."

Marko believes that qualifying at the front will be crucial for winning the race. The Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled for this weekend, August 23–25. Verstappen, 26, currently holds a commanding 78-point lead over Lando Norris in the drivers' championship.