Why Red Bull wasn't surprised to face a greater challenge in 2024
Max Verstappen will probably clinch his fourth Formula 1 world championship this season, despite an increasing challenge from McLaren. This, as ALEX KALINAUCKAS argues, was not unexpected
When Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in his RB19 at Suzuka last year, winning by 20 seconds over the next non-Red Bull car, few minds in Formula 1 might have imagined that, come the summer break, the 2024 season would have the widest race victory success spread in 12 years. Except, it seems, within Red Bull itself.
The team stunned F1 with the big changes to the upper aerodynamic surfaces of the RB20 compared with its illustrious predecessor. Its early-season form – which should have been a clean sweep but for Verstappen’s brake exploding and Sergio Perez putting in the first of many underwhelming displays in Melbourne – suggested all were going to be carried before once again.
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