Max Verstappen reportedly drove Red Bull RB18 at Imola in a secret test to understand 2024 struggles

Max Verstappen has been fairly critical of the challenges posed by the RB20.

Max Verstappen reportedly drove Red Bull RB18 at Imola in a secret test to understand 2024 struggles

Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Max Verstappen has been dominating the F1 landscape ever since his maiden title triumph in 2021. In the following years, Red Bull emerged as the benchmark and the Dutchman claimed an astonishing 34 wins between 2022-23.

However, this lead has diminished in the last few races as the RB20 has proved to be a handful, and to understand the complexities, the 26-year-old was reported to have taken part in a private test driving his RB18 in Imola.

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Red Bull started the ongoing season with a glimpse of its 2023 dominance. However, this soon changed as Ferrari and McLaren joined in on the fight for races, while the RB20 seemed to hit a development ceiling. This sudden slump in performance led to Max Verstappen losing several races and even having to fight tooth and nail for the win in Canada.

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According to De Telegraaf, to help resolve the RB20’s peculiar characteristics, Red Bull recently had a private test in Imola in the 2022 machinery, which Verstappen drove and gave his feedback on. This private test relays the threat the Austrian squad currently faces amidst tight competition. Moreover, similar tensions were expressed by the reigning champion earlier and the constructor title seems to be up for grabs.

Max Verstappen hopes to have a calmer Spanish GP

While the Dutchman won the Canadian tussle with his wet racing masterclass, there are still 15 races left in the campaign. A loss here and there could shrink his lead in the driver’s championship and take away the chance of winning the fourth consecutive title.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez (Via: Imago)

Amidst tough competition from rivals, Verstappen hoped for calmer weather in Barcelona.

We are aiming to keep the momentum going from Canada, so we are looking forward to racing this weekend and hopefully have some good weather!
Max Verstappen said in a press release made by Red Bull

The 26-year-old claimed that he wants to keep the momentum from Canada up and running. He further stated that he hopes for good weather around Catalunya unlike Montreal, which might hint at Red Bull’s overwhelming pace in the dry conditions.

However, the Spanish GP is known to be a spanner in the works. Thus, the Milton Keynes-based squad might have to tip-toe around the 4.6-kilometer track and pray for its rivals to tangle up with each other.

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