Fred Vasseur hints Max Verstappen’s RB18 test at Imola could lead to illegal car development

Fred Vasseur believed Max Verstappen's private test in RB18 in Imola wouldn't be the most beneficial way for Red Bull.

Fred Vasseur hints Max Verstappen’s RB18 test at Imola could lead to illegal car development

Fred Vasseur and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Red Bull had started the 2024 season off in a great manner. However, the team lost out on immense performance due to multiple older issues creeping up in this season’s challenger. Milton Keynes continued to attempt to revive performance in the chassis. As a result, the Austrian constructor conducted a private test on the RB18 at the Imola circuit last week with Max Verstappen.

The reason for the private test around Imola in RB18 with Max Verstappen was to provide a different outlook on what could be done in the new chassis. Fred Vasseur believed this wasn’t the best way to gain control over the performance of the chassis. The team principal wasn’t complaining about the test and was completely okay with it as long it fell under the regulations.

I’m not complaining about them and they are in the regulations and it’s completely okay – it’s more development than something else.

Fred Vasseur said, as reported by planetf1.com.
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As per Vasseur, the test in Imola was not to give Verstappen more mileage in terms of driving the challenger. However, the Frenchman believed it was to gain maximum potential from such tests, the test needed to be conducted one week before the race. Hence, Red Bull will need to gain more information about the chassis to improve performance.

FS Video
It’s not to give mileage to Max between Barcelona and Austria (sic) that, Tuesday, you do nothing but go along to Imola. But you can’t differentiate on these, there’s TPC that you could do with your racing drivers and these, for me, it’s more development than something else when you do a TPC one week before.
Fred Vasseur added.

Fred Vasseur believes McLaren’s development isn’t ‘superior’ to that of Ferrari

McLaren and Ferrari quickly rose to success and provided tough competition to the dominant Red Bull. However, the papaya outfit started to perform much better with Lando Norris‘ impressive race finishes. Meanwhile, Ferrari started to see a dip in performance since Charles Leclerc‘s victory in Monaco. Regardless, Fred Vasseur believes that Woking’s development isn’t much superior to that of the Italian squad.

Carlos Sainz, Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc (via IMAGO)
Carlos Sainz, Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc (via IMAGO)

Vasseur recalled the 2023 British GP and how McLaren finished only 25 seconds ahead of Ferrari. As a result, the 2024 season’s result showcased that the development wasn’t that much better than Maranello’s. Apart from this, the Frenchman noted that no driver was enjoying a highly dominant lead to the rivals on track due to the competition bunching up at the forefront.

In Great Britain last year, McLaren finished 25 seconds ahead of us. So I don’t think their development is that much better than ours. ou could say there was someone better when he was 6 tenths better, but that’s no longer the case. Now, there will be changes because it also depends on the setup and how you have optimized it.
Fred Vasseur said, as reported by formu1a.uno.

Ferrari will have to continue to implement multiple in-season upgrades to continue the lead over the rivals. Additionally, the Italian constructor still has a long way to go against Red Bull’s struggling but consistent pace this season. The end of the 2024 season looks promising for a great championship battle.

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