McLaren, now with 516 points in the Constructors’ Championship, holds a comfortable lead, outperforming Red Bull’s RB20. Despite recent improvements to the RB20, these changes have not been enough to push Red Bull ahead in the Constructors’ standings. Sergio Perez continues to struggle with the car, which has made it difficult for the team to regain momentum.
The RB20’s unpredictable performance has played a key role in their current standing. A few months ago, Max Verstappen raised concerns about the car’s poor drivability, which he felt was hindering his ability to perform at his best. Because of this, Red Bull’s primary focus has now shifted to improving the RB20 for Verstappen, aiming to give him a fighting chance in the upcoming United States GP.
The recent upgrades at the Singapore GP have provided some small improvements to the car’s performance. However, these enhancements are not enough to close the gap between Red Bull and McLaren, who are still leading the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull knows that better upgrades are necessary if they are to mount a serious challenge to McLaren’s pursuit of the title.
While most other teams have already moved on to developing their cars for the 2025 season, Red Bull finds themselves in a difficult position. They cannot afford to shift focus just yet, as they need to continue working on improving the RB20’s performance for the current season. This delay in transitioning to next year’s car development could cost Red Bull valuable time when preparing for the 2025 season.
Despite the intense competition between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s decision to prioritize the RB20 over early 2025 development seems logical for now. However, it comes with significant risks. The team knows that while their short-term focus may boost their chances this season, it could very well hinder their plans for 2025, leaving them on the back foot when next season begins.
