Max Verstappen says his Red Bull was handling so badly in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix his wheels lost contact with the ground in some corners.
Red Bull introduced a series of changes to their car last weekend to address the handling problems which have plagued its drivers in recent rounds. Although the team was satisfied with the improvements they made, Verstappen said set-up changes on his car ahead of qualifying unbalanced his car.Verstappen said his car was “very difficult” to drive in the race. “It was not enjoyable.”
“Basically what I was worried about already after qualifying and during qualifying was also my main issue in the race, where I had a lot of problems with the car jumping around,” Verstappen told Viaplay. “So I was losing contact with the Tarmac.
“There was always one wheel on each axle coming off the ground in the low-speed corners. So I was just losing a lot of lap time there.
“On the braking as well, the car was jumping and just a lot of sliding because of that. And we know that you don’t want to do that in the race so that all just spiralled into a lot of difficulties.”
Unusually, Verstappen spent all his race behind the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez, until his team mate crashed out on the penultimate lap. His championship rival Lando Norris, who started 15th, overtook him for fourth place with three laps to go.
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Verstappen said there was no way he could keep the McLaren driver behind, who switched to the medium tyre compound for the final stint while the Red Bull driver was on an old set of hard rubber. “It was tough,” he said.
“Already our race was just not very good and then, of course, he was on the softer compound to the end [of the race] with light fuel so the degradation was also less of a problem. So it was not great.”
Red Bull pitted Verstappen immediately afterwards to fit a set of soft tyres in an apparent bid to score the bonus point for setting the fastest lap time. However his team mate’s crash prevented him from making an attempt, and Norris took the point.
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2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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- Hamilton explains suspension set-up change behind “miserable” Baku weekend
- Piastri needs “crazy” results to become title contender despite Baku win
- FIA taking new look at flexing bodywork amid intrigue over McLaren’s rear wing
- Norris knew Verstappen broke VSC rules in Baku because he did the same in Melbourne
Doh
16th September 2024, 11:12
Is it just me or is he starting to sound like Lewis?
Also would be surprised if most cars are going light on one wheel out the castle section
baasbas
16th September 2024, 11:29
@Doh
Well yes. Ask a driver how his (obviously) rough race went where he is not getting on with the car due to handling characteristics and set-up challenges, you’re going to get the kind of answers? So what do you expect from him there?
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
17th September 2024, 7:56
Who sounded like Fernando around 2014, who sounded like Shui in 2011, who sounded like Senna in… well take your pick.
Greats tend to moan a lot. It’s what makes them great.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
17th September 2024, 11:00
Lewis has the same problem as Max, but unfortunately the press will cut the camera feed if they dare talk about what’s really going on. It’s all smoke and mirrors, and if you ever here it repeated at least once by the press, it’s because it’s meant to be heard.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
17th September 2024, 11:00
*hear
Matthijs (@matthijs)
16th September 2024, 11:53
Indeed. People must remember that these articles are created around answers that drivers give to questions. It is not that these drivers actively contact the media to complain.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
16th September 2024, 12:13
Yes. Wouldn’t it be nice to read what question was being asked. And who was asking, if it’s a particularly stupid one.
Johns
16th September 2024, 15:07
Yes they are missing that key part, Newey.
No seriously, Nigel Mansel had similar complaint many decades ago; then the team discovered a broken tub. Just saying.
Matthijs (@matthijs)
16th September 2024, 21:19
Not a bad suggestion. But since Perez is complaining about similar issues, I don’t think it is down to one car.
Gary Taylor
16th September 2024, 17:48
I noticed whilst watching qualy and the race the cannon’s were back on the engine cover of the red-bull and yet they were removed at the hungarian grand prix.
Rhys Lloyd (@justrhysism)
17th September 2024, 3:55
I noticed that too.
MacLeod (@macleod)
17th September 2024, 8:02
I think it’s low downforce and higher downforce difference. I forgot which is the high downforce cover but you will see then in Singapore and Mexico…. Baku is the low downforce version.
Señor Sjon
17th September 2024, 8:19
Baku is a low DF track, so that is why the cannons were back.
But the fault seems to have started with the Spain 2023(!) upgrade of the floor and updates after that only made it worse, until the Miami update made a total mess of it.
Applebook
16th September 2024, 19:58
The car was fine under the command of Perez. I guess Max put that Red Bull where it belonged, and Sergio is worth half a second more than the car was literally and physically capable of. And yes, to the poster above, Max whining like Lewis.
Observer
16th September 2024, 21:19
World champion winner, or world champion whiner? Just asking the question.
ludewig
16th September 2024, 23:20
You are a world champion whiner. Just answering your question.
Observer
16th September 2024, 23:36
Thank you! That’s what I wanted to know.
Mayrton
17th September 2024, 13:30
Maybe both?
Francesco (@schivo69)
17th September 2024, 7:42
‘Verstappen now has the same problems as me’.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
17th September 2024, 11:13
How about a conspiracy theory, Red Bull are hampering Verstappen to make him look worse than he is – all to reduce the chance of another team poaching him?
I quite like that one.
CarWars (@maxv)
17th September 2024, 12:49
how about Max doing a football player like scheme: he is deliberately bad to get out of his contract. Its what football players do, they make a mess, misbehave, get in conflict with the club or trainer and fly away to a new multi million contract..
CarWars (@maxv)
17th September 2024, 12:46
Queue the memes of Verstappen in a three-wheeler
David
17th September 2024, 13:52
Perez could handle it.
DaveW (@dmw)
18th September 2024, 1:41
It’s the fastest set-up for a VW GTI. Inside rear tire off the ground is the classic look. Maybe the team is onto something and Max just needs to adapt to the car.