Max Verstappen remains uncertain as to why the RB20 has become more challenging to handle in recent races. According to the world champion, this wasn’t the case at the start of the year. Red Bull is still unsure of the exact source of the problem, yet Verstappen isn’t overly concerned about the championships for now.
Verstappen overtook Norris at the start of his home race, but the Brit quickly regained the lead. Norris then disappeared into the distance, finishing a substantial 22 seconds ahead of Verstappen. However, the three-time world champion had anticipated this outcome before the race.
When asked at the press conference if Red Bull struggled more than expected during the race, Verstappen responded, “The entire weekend was the same. The balance was the same from VT1 to the race. The shortcomings were also the same, and very difficult to resolve. Something recently went wrong with the car, and we need to improve it quickly.”
Verstappen Remains Unfazed
Verstappen explains that the issue was “not present during the first few races. Something in the car has made it difficult to control. It’s very hard to pinpoint exactly where it goes wrong.” However, Verstappen is not yet sounding the alarm. “It was just a bad weekend. The last few races were not fantastic, but we don’t need to panic yet.”
Despite the ongoing struggles with the RB20, Verstappen had a world-class start at Zandvoort. “I also had a bit of wheelspin,” revealed Verstappen, who was otherwise satisfied with the start of the race. “But Checo (Pérez) also had a good start. We did well as a team, but we’ve been doing that all year.” Verstappen further explained how, once Norris had passed the Dutchman, he focused mainly on “my own race”.
‘Had Many Good Years’
Verstappen last won at the Grand Prix of Spain, six Grand Prix ago. However, the Dutchman is not worried about this either. “That just happens,” Verstappen remains calm. “I’ve also had many good years. Some drivers haven’t won a single race, so you can look at it that way.”
