Verstappen: Red Bull "doesn't understand" F1 bump weakness

Red Bull's bump struggles exposed

Max Verstappen's candid admission following the Monaco Grand Prix has shed light on Red Bull's persisting struggle with bumpy circuits and kerb riding.

The reigning world champion expressed frustration, stating that the team "clearly doesn't understand" the root cause of this weakness, which has carried over from the previous two seasons.

Performance dip on specific circuits

While Red Bull has maintained its competitive edge on most tracks, certain venues have exposed vulnerabilities in the RB20's performance.

Circuits like Monaco, Imola, Miami, and Melbourne have proved challenging, with the team's car handling suffering on bumpy surfaces and when navigating kerbs.

Inherent chassis issue

Verstappen highlighted the severity of the problem, labeling it a "fundamental" issue that may not be resolved within weeks.

He acknowledged the team's lack of understanding, suggesting it could be an inherent chassis problem that may persist until the 2025 season.

Closing performance gap

With Ferrari and McLaren closing the performance gap, Red Bull can no longer afford less-than-perfect weekends.

Circuits like the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, known for its bumpy layout and emphasis on kerb-riding, could prove tricky for the Milton Keynes-based team.

Team's efforts and outlook

Despite the challenges, Verstappen remains optimistic about Red Bull's ability to address the issue, stating,

"We will work hard to find the problem and then try to get rid of it."

He acknowledges that while some tracks may continue to pose difficulties, others will better suit the RB20's strengths.

Technical analysis and implications

Red Bull's struggles on bumpy circuits and with kerb-riding highlight a potential weakness in the RB20's chassis design or suspension geometry.

Addressing this issue could be crucial for the team to maintain its dominance, especially as rivals close the performance gap.

The team's engineers will need to thoroughly investigate the root cause and explore potential solutions, which may involve structural modifications or setup adjustments.

"It is a fundamental problem, so it is not something that will be fixed within weeks."

"We need to understand what it is, because we clearly don't understand it."

"There definitely a few tracks on the calendar that are not ideal for us."

"Any track that is bumpy or you have to ride a lot of kerbs, so the street circuits, will probably be a little bit tricky but hopefully by then we have a little bit of understanding of what is going on."