Summer Break, Team Analysis - Formula 1 2024

Ah Red Bull. Where shall we start with the number one team, with the number one driver at the halfway point? Look no further, there's trouble in Paradise...

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Max and the crew are seeing orange these days, and it isn't from the smoke at the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix. McLaren is hot on their tails. The papaya race car is quick, and they continue to prove it time and time again. So what can Red Bull do? What can Max do to stay in front? Why don't ya just drive the other cars off the track Max? Drive Ridiculously Stupid mode has been engaged.

But is that truly what is going on at Red Bull? Is it solely due to the drivers errors and inconsistency for there now being a 4 team competition on race day? (Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and RB). Yes for the most part. Sergio is essentially a no show on the podium this season, and they NEED him to be there or within the top 5 when the checkered flag waves. Max can't do it all by himself this season. McLaren is too close. Mercedes is winning again, and Ferrari, well they are bound to get themselves back in line and be a major threat again. Aside from Sergio not being in the right side of the mix of points, Max needs to stop shooting himself in the foot. Did he get too comfortable being so far in the front that now any close racing is messing with his mind? I don't think so, but, the younger, immature Max of old (think battles with Hamilton not too many seasons ago) is coming out again. His radio chatter with his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is the stuff of censor heaven. He cries and moans, berates Lambiase and the team when things aren't going right, and basically is a big baby. It's not healthy. It's not healthy for anyone involved. Sure, pundits are going to say it's his 'competitive nature', but come on. You can be competitive, a bit fiery, but ever so gracious in the best of times, and the worst (look to Lewis Hamilton).

There is more to it than just the drivers. The issues are coming from within. And how did we get to this state of affairs (Affairs being the keyword) though? I haven't commented on Christian Horner's alleged affair/sexual harassment allegations till now, but, everything did start falling apart from within when that came to light. Jos Verstappen became disgruntled, Adrian Newey started contemplating a new venture, and Helmut Marko was ready to abandon ship should it have been too much for his young apprentice Verstappen. Good job Christian, you set your balls in motion, sorry 'the' ball in motion, and now RB needs to get it back together.

It was only a matter of time for the rest of the field to make sense of this regulation car, make adjustments, bring upgrades, and close the gap to Red Bull. That has now happened. And in the meantime, Red Bull has been a side show in a bizarre carnival.

Within the disarray of personnel issues, their tech department isn't getting it right either. They brought an upgrade package to Hungary that totally unbalance the car, and even has Marko stating they took a wrong turn somewhere. Really? This car that looked unbeatable for the past two seasons, is vulnerable? Yes, and everyone is now capitalizing on it. Can they get it back on track? Definitely, but again, everyone else is making their cars work better and better. Ok, well maybe Mercedes and McLaren are, but Ferrari will get in there again too.

All I know is, Horner better have gotten things figured out over the break. The team needs a sense of unity, and most importantly direction. I don't trust that he can do that with everything that has gone on, and continues to go on at RB. Signing Perez to an extension almost can be considered a distraction from the chaos within. Max needs to calm down, Perez needs to step up, and RB needs to bring a package that works to the car for this weekend. All three need to happen, or it will be Papaya orange growing forever brighter on race day, and not that acrid smoke that quite literally sums up Red Bull at the present moment.

Off to the Dutch Grand Prix we go, race week is back baby!