The tragic downfall of Red Bull's once-dominant RB20 car

Max Verstappen had to settle for second place at the Singapore GP, behind Lando Norris, who is closing in on the defending champion. But why is Red Bull, once so dominant, currently struggling?

Red Bull's decline is visible in and out of the paddock. The Austrian team that once dominated the Formula 1 grid for almost three consecutive years is now falling short to McLaren. They lost their lead in the Constructors' Championship, falling 20 points behind after the 2024 Azerbaijan GP - first time since 2022.

Red Bull's struggles got serious after a late-race crash between Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz, costing the team 15 critical points. Max Verstappen was overtaken by Lando Norris, despite Norris starting from 15th place, raising concerns about Red Bull's fading dominance.

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Perez's crash not only cost Red Bull points but also severely damaged his car, including the newly upgraded underfloor, a critical element in Red Bull's bid to improve performance.

Christian Horner stressed that the team faces a shortage of spare parts, reports Motorsport. "Spare parts are scarce. We will have to work around the clock at the factory for five days straight to get the necessary parts ahead of Friday," shared Red Bull's team principal during an interview ahead of the Singapore GP.

The problems with the RB20 can be traced back to an underfloor upgrade introduced in 2023. According to ESPN, while Verstappen enjoyed steady victories, Perez struggled with persistent instability issues related to the car's aerodynamics.

Despite the Baku crash, Perez showed signs of improvement. Perez's competitive performance before the accident demonstrated that Red Bull was on the right track in refining the car's issues.

There is a major upgrade package in the making for Red Bull, ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin. According to Motorsport, Horner believes these upgrades will make the RB20 more competitive, potentially bringing Red Bull back to the front of the grid.

Adrian Newey, the true mastermind of Red Bull, has now moved on to Aston Martin. The former chief designer was the mastermind, and his departure could highlight the end of an era at the Austrian paddock. Helmut Marko admitted Newey's technical expertise might have helped in recent struggles, though he dismissed the idea that Red Bull's issues are solely due to his departure.

Verstappen's performance in Baku highlighted the RB20's sensitivity to setup and tire degradation. The car requires precise tuning, and even small adjustments can drastically affect race performance, making it challenging for both drivers.

Despite McLaren's lead, Red Bull remains optimistic ahead of the coming races. Horner and Marko are confident that the planned upgrades will address the car's balance and tire issues, allowing the team to challenge for the 2024 titles as the season progresses!

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