After Monza, there are many who seriously believe that Red Bull could still come under pressure in the Formula 1 World Championship – including Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff …
Max Verstappen finished sixth and Sergio Perez eighth at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. One of the most disappointing performances for Red Bull in recent years, because the inferiority compared to McLaren and Ferrari in particular could not be plausibly explained.
A result that even the competition is surprised by: “That was probably one of the worst races we’ve seen from them for many years. They simply had no pace,” says Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
That is “really strange”, says the Austrian: “Of course, I don’t see it that way. But this is no longer the dominant Red Bull from the start of the season. I think Max saved the day for a while with his class. But now the results are no longer there.”
“As I said, I’m not looking into it and I don’t understand what’s going on. It could just have been a slip of the tongue.”
Apparently quite a long slip, because Verstappen has not won a Grand Prix in the past six race weekends. That is the longest dry spell since 2020, when he was not yet Formula 1 world champion.
But Wolff emphasizes: “Who am I to say that? We had two years in which nothing worked at all. And it was the same with Ferrari a few races ago. I don’t think you should write them off. They are a formidable team and I am sure they will have better races again in the future.”
At the same time, Wolff is convinced: “McLaren is now clearly the favorite in the constructors’ championship. They have two drivers who score points reliably. I bet Red Bull wouldn’t have expected that at the start of this year.”
Red Bull is currently still in the lead in the constructors’ championship, but only eight points ahead of McLaren and 39 ahead of Ferrari. Verstappen’s lead among the drivers is somewhat greater. After Monza, he has 62 points on Lando Norris
