Janice R. Andrews
As they get ready for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku this weekend, Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing will try to turn around their recent drop in form. It’s been six races since the last win, so both the driver and the team are hoping that the tight, fast streets of Baku will spark their title battle again. Verstappen still has a 62-point lead over second-placed Lando Norris in the drivers’ title, but that lead has shrunk. Also, Red Bull’s lead in the constructors’ standings has shrunk, leaving McLaren only eight points behind.
This slump is different for a team that has been the best in Formula 1 for over two years. When Verstappen won his 61st race, the Spanish Grand Prix in June, it was Red Bull’s last win. Sergio Perez, who is on the same team, last won in Baku a year ago. It was his second win at the track and sixth overall. Now that McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes are on the rise, Red Bull’s lead is in danger.
Red Bull Needs to Make Things Right
Since the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull has been in charge of the manufacturers’ title. However, they are about to lose their lead. If McLaren beats them by nine points in Baku, Red Bull could lose their tight grip on first place, which didn’t seem possible just a few months ago.
To make things even more interesting, Aston Martin just announced that Adrian Newey, who is the head designer at Red Bull, will join their team as a technical partner in the future. People are now wondering how Newey’s exit might affect Red Bull’s performance after this news came out. Another loss to McLaren this weekend could mean that the order of things in Formula 1 changes.
Even though they’re having trouble, Verstappen is still sure they can find an answer. When Verstappen talked about Red Bull’s poor performance at Monza, where Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won on September 1, he stressed the team’s determination to get through the problems. “Monza was a tough race for us, and it is our priority to get our form back to where it needs to be,” he said. “The team has been working hard on the issues we’ve had.”
Perez agreed with these points of view and said that both drivers have been working with the team at the Milton Keynes plant to fix the issues. “To get back to where we should be on the grid, it will take a team effort,” he said. “This has pulled us all together.”
Perez Relies on His Experience in Baku
Sergio Perez wants to do well in Azerbaijan for his own reasons. The Mexican driver really likes the Baku City Circuit because he has won there twice. “That’s where I love to race,” Perez said. “Street circuits suit my style, and Baku is a fun track.”
Perez is eager to build on his past success at the track, even though he has been having a rough patch lately, including finishing eighth at Monza. This driver has won more races and scored more points in Baku than any other driver on the grid right now. Ferrari and McLaren are both moving faster again, so Perez’s experience in Baku could be very important for Red Bull’s attempt to get back on track.
Ferrari and McLaren Look for Chances
Ferrari is excited to go to Baku because they have a better car and won at Monza. For the Monza race, the Italian team made big changes to the floor and aerodynamics of their car, which showed right away. But team director Fred Vasseur has warned against getting too excited and stressed the importance of consistency over title goals.
Vasseur said, “We need to work hard every weekend to do a good job.” “It’s no good to focus on the championship and be conservative… everything can change so much from one week to the next.”
In recent races, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have done well for McLaren, making them a real threat as well. It’s likely that Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes will fight in Baku, which will make the race even more exciting.
Changes at Haas and How Important Baku Is
Haas will also have a different set of drivers at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Owen Bearman, a reserve driver, will take over for Kevin Magnussen, who was banned after getting 12 penalty points. Nico Hulkenberg and Bearman will race together.
The Baku Grand Prix will be a big race in the 2024 Formula 1 season. Red Bull will be trying to get back on track, Ferrari will be trying to keep their progress going, and McLaren is closing in on both titles. As the race for the title gets tougher, everyone will be watching to see if Verstappen and Perez can get Red Bull back to the top of the podium.
