Red Bull have dominated Formula 1 since the ground effect regulations were introduced in 2022, winning the last two titles at a canter.
The Austrian team suffered a dip in form and have struggled in recent races, they are now looking vulnerable in the Constructors’ Championship as McLaren are just eight points behind.
Red Bull built a car that is incredibly efficient aerodynamically but has lacked speed occasionally on street circuits, such as at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix
Max Verstappen in particular, enjoys driving a car with all the grip on the front axle and a positive front end.
Sergio Perez requires a slightly different setup as his driving style is more suited to understeer rather than his teammate requiring a very sharp car, especially when turning in.
The Mexican driver is adamant that Red Bull have identified the key areas the team needs to improve on, particularly around the rear of the car, via quotes from Racingnews365.
Sergio Perez believes he and Max Verstappen are ‘not able to throw the car’ due to a lack of grip at the rear
Confidence behind the wheel is vital in Formula 1, particularly at high-speed circuits such as Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, to maximise the car’s performance.
If the car is unstable, it will force the driver to drive below the limit over a race distance, causing them to lose time to their rivals.
Red Bull were particularly uncompetitive in Belgium and at the Italian Grand Prix, both are that track with quick turns that require a stable platform for the driver to work from.
READ MORE: Red Bull’s ‘big loss’ that is impacting them in title battle with McLaren
Perez says that the Austrian team have a clear direction of where to improve the car and outlined where he and Verstappen are struggling.
He said: “The good thing is that we have no questions now. We know exactly where the issue is, we can clearly see it on the data, but it is just about how we fix it and how we attack it.”
“I will be in the factory with the engineers because [the next few weeks] are going to be really important. We need to be able to stop the car and be able to carry the speed in. We are not able to throw the car [into the corners] because of [a lack of grip] from the rear.”
Red Bull’s struggles may cost them both championships in Formula 1
Red Bull started the season as clear favourites to win both championships once more, but McLaren’s upturn in form and their slump have ignited a battle for the Constructors’ title.
McLaren are just eight points behind and may be considered favourites to clinch the championship as they have set the benchmark at recent races.
The drivers’ title is less in McLaren’s favour as Verstappen still holds a commanding 62-point advantage over Lando Norris.
Verstappen’s points lead could soon disappear if the Dutchman experiences unreliability issues and Norris puts together a series of consecutive victories.
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