Max Verstappen claims Red Bull upgrades ‘not a response’ to Ferrari and McLaren victories

Max Verstappen made it clear that Red Bull's Emilia-Romagna GP update package was not a reaction' to the improving pace of Ferrari and McLaren.

Max Verstappen claims Red Bull upgrades ‘not a response’ to Ferrari and McLaren victories

Max Verstappen, Lando Norris (L circle), Charles Leclerc (R circle) (images via IMAGO)

Red Bull has continued to dominate Formula 1 in 2024 season. However, Milton Keynes has already lost out on two of the first six races so far. Rival teams have coped well against the Austrian giant. The reigning world champions have brought updates to the RB20 at the Emilia-Romagna GP to extract more pace out of the car. However, Max Verstappen reckons that these updates are not a response to the rival team’s newfound pace.

Max Verstappen was vocal regarding the updates to the RB20 at the Emilia-Romagna GP. The Dutchman made it clear that the team wasn’t responding to the rival team’s upgrades. The update package had been in the ‘pipeline’ for a very long time. Additionally, the reigning world champion asserted that the team was ‘happy’ with the updates and claimed that Red Bull needed to keep pushing down the season.

No, it is not a response because these things have been in the pipeline for much longer. It is not the case that one team comes up with updates and then we think 'oh, now we also have to respond quickly and come up with something'. That's not how it works. We are happy with the updates, but we have to keep pushing.
Max Verstappen said, as reported by nl.motorsport.com.
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After losing out on the Miami GP to Lando Norris, who scored his maiden win, Verstappen reckoned that the rival teams were closing on. Hence, if Red Bull doesn’t have their ‘100% together’ they could face issues. Additionally, the Dutchman claimed that the first five races of the season weren’t as easy as fans had initially assumed.

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The teams behind us are certainly getting closer, as you could see in Miami If we don't have one hundred percent of it together, then they will be in trouble right away. We have to make sure that we don't have too many weekends like that. The first five races have not been as easy as people always presented it to be.
Max Verstappen noted.

Max Verstappen claims it is ‘difficult’ for Red Bull to know where it stands against rivals

Ferrari and McLaren have been closely following Red Bull’s dominant pace since the season’s beginning. The top three teams could be in a great battle for the championship if Red Bull fails to keep up with in-season upgrades. Regardless, Milton Keynes will keep upgrading the already quick RB20 and close the window on the rivals. Hence, amidst this Max Verstappen raises uncertainty over the rival teams.

Christian Horner and Max Verstappen
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen (Via IMAGO)

Verstappen pointed out that multiple teams were bringing upgrades to the challenger at the Emilia-Romagna GP. Additionally, the Dutchman highlighted Ferrari’s huge upgrade package where they are bringing seven performance upgrades to the SF-24. Hence, the 26-year-old claimed that the team was unaware of where they were currently standing due to the rival’s quick upgrades.

Several teams are coming up with upgrades this weekend. Ferrari is even coming up with a very large one, so at the moment it is very difficult to say where exactly we stand.
Max Verstappen concluded.

Regardless of the increasing competition, the Dutchman will continue to perform at the pinnacle of his career. The 26-year-old has a somewhat similar trajectory to the previous season. Hence, down the season, Red Bull could continue to perform at the highest order and eliminate competition. Although, it remains to be seen how things pan out in the coming weeks.

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