Max Verstappen’s Doomsday Predicted as Red Bull’s Biggest Strength Turns Into Achilles’ Heel

While the Mexican GP was dramatic for most teams and drivers, it was the usual walk in the park for Max Verstappen. However, it was not looking great for the Orange Army when Verstappen was under scrutiny for a pitlane traffic jam caused by him. Lining up third on the grid, it was quite an unusual spot for the three-time champion to be in. Nevertheless, Verstappen effortlessly glided past the Ferrari’s. Avoiding a dramatic incident between Perez and Leclerc, the Dutch Lion marched toward victory!

The combination of Max Verstappen and the RB19 has been unmatched ever since Mercedes decided to adopt the zero-pod approach in 2021, which sent them tumbling down the constructor’s standings. Since then, there has been no major threat to Red Bull’s dominance, until this year. A lot of the credit, of course, goes to Red Bull’s Chief Technology Officer, Adrian Newey. The man is considered by many to be an aerodynamic wizard, and rightfully so! However, all good things eventually come to an end, and so will Newey’s career.

Former F1 team owner sidelines Verstappen to reveal true Red Bull hero after Mexican GP

Giancarlo Minardi is no stranger to Formula 1 and the intricacies of operating a team. The Faenza native was the managing director and founder of the Minardi Formula One team. So it’s safe to say the 76-year-old’s opinion on the matter of Red Bull’s dominance carries weight. He’s been observing the Dutch Lion’s dominant run with Red Bull, which has shattered impressive records.

Minardi was quoted by F1iAutoJournal, reflecting on the other team’s chances to catch up with the Milton Keynes outfit, he shared, “Faced with such disarming supremacy of Verstappen and Red Bull in terms of speed, competitiveness and above all reliability, I don’t know what their direct rivals can do in the near future,” – The President of FIA’s single-seater commission, Minardi is well aware of how important the engineering side is to the sport, more so than the driver. Which is why it’s no surprise that Minardi thinks Red Bull’s ace isn’t Verstappen, but Adrian Newey. He added, “The only solution may be that Adrian Newey chooses to hang up.”

It’s no secret that Red Bull has always had the upper hand in aero-dynamics, so now that the regulations favor ground effect, the team is succeeding. While Verstappen is one of the most gifted drivers in recent years, it’s hardly just his talent that results in Red Bull’s dominance. So it might become a big issue for Red Bull if Adrian Newey were to retire.

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But it’s not just Giancarlo Minardi who thinks Red Bull’s true pillar of success is Adrian Newey. Former F1 stars like Nigel Mansell have also commended Adrian Newey’s brilliance, joking that the sport will be more entertaining if Newey does indeed retire. The truth is that the British engineer has been given the perfect environment to bring his visions to life.

Red Bull’s confidence in Adrian Newey exposes chink in the armor

Teams such as Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren have had dominant runs as well, but when they fall, they fall off hard. This issue can be credited to the instability in the internal organization of the teams, with major roles changing hands quite frequently. However, Red Bull has been cautious about this issue, just take Christian Horner for example! The Milton Keynes outfit is known to stick to the people who make the team run better. And the case is no different with Adrian Newey, he’s always been given a stable office owing to Red Bull’s unchanging hierarchy.

The Mexican GP saw Max Verstappen win the race with a flawless drive. But they lost out on the fastest lap to Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. This should not have been the case given the RB19’s pace advantage, but it showed Red Bull was caught lacking. Minard commented on this, “The fastest lap escaped him only because Red Bull did not expect the last rush of Lewis Hamilton, author of an excellent second place.” the fact that Red Bull doesn’t expect their competition to get the fastest lap over them just shows the unwavering faith they have in Verstappen and Newey. But this very confidence is what cost them the fastest lap.

This blunder may have exposed a bigger problem. After all, Hamilton halved Perez’s lead on him in the constructors in just one weekend, which is why any point they can take off Hamilton is crucial. And it’s not just Mercedes that poses a serious concern for Red Bull. Minardi pointed out their biggest threat, “A big applause goes to McLaren. They are probably the only team that, at the moment, can approach Red Bull in terms of performance.” The Papaya-clad outfit has been making a steady climb toward the top. While Max Verstappen won, Lando Norris delivered a stellar drive from the back of the grid to fifth at the Mexican GP.

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So with McLaren and Mercedes dialling in their set-ups, Red Bull will have to ensure Adrian Newey’s wizardry can continue to flourish for years to come. They have managed to build a formidable force ever since their inception. And their loyalty is paying dividends. However, with the other teams eyeing the constructor’s title for 2024, it’s going to be a long winter for Newey in the wind tunnel!