Max Verstappen expresses frustration with Red Bull’s lack of development on a low-drag rear wing, following his fifth-place qualifying result at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Verstappen acknowledges that Red Bull has been struggling on the straights in Las Vegas due to the unsuitability of their rear wing for the high-speed circuit. While he qualified fifth, he was significantly behind George Russell, attributing this gap to the rear wing strategy.
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Verstappen states, “We opted not to develop a lower-downforce wing, a decision made back in 2022. While I wish we had one for better performance, we prioritized other aspects due to budget constraints.” He expresses disappointment in potentially sacrificing two race weekends due to this strategy.
Despite the straight-line deficit, Verstappen notes that Red Bull is also struggling in corners. He mentions the challenges with the current rear wing design affecting speed and tire performance.
Looking ahead, Verstappen aims to overtake Gasly but acknowledges the difficulty in catching up to the front cars. He expresses uncertainty about McLaren’s performance relative to Red Bull.
Teammate Sergio Perez, on the other hand, faces challenges with the car setup, impacting his performance in qualifying and frustrating his ability to maximize his potential.