How a Red Bull Rear Wing Decision in 2022 Has Affected Max Verstappen's Performance at the 2024 Las Vegas GP
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Max Verstappen's struggles at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix due to Red Bull's decision in 2022 to not develop a low-downforce rear wing. Read on for full analysis and insights.
The decision made by Red Bull in 2022 to not develop a low-downforce rear wing has caused Max Verstappen significant challenges during the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen, who was aiming for a strong performance, could only manage a fifth-place finish in qualifying, despite his best efforts. The issue stems from the Red Bull RB20, which lacks the benefit of a low-downforce rear wing, hindering performance on tracks with long straights like the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
Red Bull's Challenge with Low-Downforce Wing
Red Bull faced a tough practice day leading up to the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with both Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez struggling to keep up with the pace of their rivals. Rumors circulated that Red Bull had brought the "wrong" rear wing to the event, which exacerbated their issues during practice. Unlike other teams, Red Bull does not have a low-downforce wing for circuits like Las Vegas, which feature long straights that require low drag to optimize top speed.
Verstappen, who ended up qualifying fifth, revealed that Red Bull's decision to not develop a more efficient low-downforce wing back in 2022 has directly affected their performance in 2024. The Las Vegas circuit, known for its lengthy straights—especially the 2km stretch between Turns 12 and 14—has proven difficult for Red Bull to navigate due to its drag levels.
Verstappen's Assessment of the Situation
“We opted to not make one. We don’t have one. So this is already from 2022,” Verstappen explained to the media after qualifying. “I think we just never thought that we would run it [downforce] that low, and then, with the budget cap, you choose your priorities, and we shift to that.” Verstappen also noted that while he would have liked a lower-downforce wing, it may not make much sense to develop one given the short lifespan of the current regulations, which are set to expire after the 2024 season.
Verstappen further emphasized that the lack of a low-downforce wing has been a handicap, particularly on circuits like Las Vegas and Monza. "We know that with our wing, naturally, you lose top speed, especially with the DRS open," he added. Despite these challenges, Verstappen believes Red Bull maximized what they could during qualifying, with the Dutch driver securing a fifth-place finish—just half a second behind pole position.
Verstappen and Red Bull's Efforts to Overcome the Handicap
Although Red Bull showed significant improvement in qualifying compared to their struggles in practice, Verstappen acknowledged that the team’s performance was still hindered by their high drag levels. "Yesterday, I think we were more than a second off, and today that’s a little bit less," Verstappen said. "I also really feel like we optimised it as a team. Of course, still too slow, but I think more than half of that is already just on the straight." The team made efforts to strip their rear wing back to reduce drag, but it was clear that the car's performance was limited by this decision.
Impact on Race Day
Verstappen is hopeful that the deficit won’t be as pronounced on race day, where factors like tire management and strategy come into play. "Hopefully, with everyone DRS closing a little bit better... that’s what is quite painful in qualifying," Verstappen said. "In the race, when you try to pass people, you have less of an effect, so that will be a bit more difficult. But yeah, hopefully, we’re just decent on tyres." Despite his struggles, Verstappen remains focused on the bigger picture, acknowledging that securing a fourth consecutive world title is still within his reach if he can finish ahead of his title rival, Lando Norris, who qualified sixth.
Verstappen's Focus on the Long-Term
While Verstappen admitted that the current situation is challenging, he remains focused on the race ahead. “It’s nice today,” he said after qualifying, “but it’s more important tomorrow.” For Verstappen, the battle for the 2024 title is not over, and a strong result in Las Vegas could see him take one step closer to wrapping up his fourth consecutive world championship.
The Grid for the 2024 Las Vegas GP
Here is the revised grid after qualifying, with Verstappen starting in P5:
- P1: George Russell
- P2: Carlos Sainz (+0.098)
- P3: Pierre Gasly (+0.352)
- P4: Charles Leclerc (+0.471)
- P5: Max Verstappen (+0.485)
- P6: Lando Norris (+0.696)
- P7: Yuki Tsunoda (+0.717)
- P8: Oscar Piastri (+0.721)
- P9: Nico Hulkenberg (+0.750)
- P10: Lewis Hamilton (+15.794)
- P11: Esteban Ocon (1:33.221)
- P12: Kevin Magnussen (1:33.297)
- P13: Zhou Guanyu (1:33.566)
- P14: Liam Lawson (1:34.257)
- P15: Sergio Perez (1:34.155)
- P16: Fernando Alonso (1:34.258)
- P17: Alex Albon (1:34.425)
- P18: Lance Stroll (1:34.484)
- P19: Valtteri Bottas (1:34.430)
- P20: Franco Colapinto (Pit lane)
Max Verstappen's efforts in Las Vegas highlight the ongoing challenge of maintaining a competitive edge with Red Bull's current rear wing setup. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how this decision impacts their overall performance in the final races of 2024.
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