The first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Max Verstappen at the wheel of the new RB20, leading the time table with great authority and with more than a second advantage, spread ‘panic’ in the paddock. For F1 in general it would be a ‘blow’ if it is confirmed that we are facing a new season of relentless dominance by the three-time champion. “Let’s hope there is more battle with Max, because if not 24 races this year will be too many,” warned Carlos Sainzwho this morning was within a thousandths of the Dutchman’s time and leads the provisional classification for the second day.
Helmut Marko He asked for calm and rejected that the 2024 World Cup is going to become another Verstappen ride: “The advantage is not as big as it seems. We are the only ones who have ridden with new medium tires in the late hours of the afternoon, that explains the big jump we have given. We estimate that the current advantage over our rivals is three tenths,” said the Austrian after the first day of testing.
“The concept is working and that is the most important thing. The car reacts and looks good. A new concept is always a risk, if you look at Mercedes, they had problems and our car works from the first lap. I am very proud and happy” , concluded Dr. Marko.
A taste of what is to eat? 🍽️👀pic.twitter.com/fmI1b5Q3Jw
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 21, 2024
The speech of Red Bull’s ‘guru’, Adrian Newey, sounded more forceful, which once again has been anticipated once again with the aerodynamic solutions and the revolutionary pontoons that the RB20 incorporates: “When we started to design the new car we realized that all the other rivals would copy the RB19, after seeing that it was such a single-seater. dominant,” said the British engineer, referring to the car that won 21 of the 22 races last year.
“If we had just opted for evolution, we would have been vulnerable,” admitted Newey, who has once again pulled an ‘ace’ out of his sleeve to surprise the competition. A brave path and a bet that, if it works, can bring another ‘monologue’ from Verstappen. The World Cup starts next week in Bahrain and there, with ‘real fire’ We will begin to clear up the doubts.