Poleposition, a dominant victory and a big lead over the competition: Max Verstappen seemed to be in the Italian Grand Prix in a time machine to 2023. His win on Monza above all shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel for Red Bull.
While the straight on Monza is still sufficient with thousands of Ferrari fans, Pierre Waché returns from the stage. The French technical director of Red Bull has just had a champagne shower from racing winner Verstappen.
With the drops still on his glasses, waché gives his judgment broadly smiling. “First of all, this was due to a fantastic driver,” he compliments Verstappen. “The team has also done great works with the adjustment of the car.”
The Frenchman agrees that Verstappen left his mark on the final adjustment on Saturday. “I admit that I didn’t like it at first,” he laughs.
A little further on, Helmut Marko explains exactly what it was all about. “It was important that there was a little more top speed,” he refers to the size of the rear wing on Verstappens car. “And that turned out to be important when the McLarens are taking away.”
‘Car did what I want’
Verstappen himself said on Saturday after qualifying that it was a long time ago that he felt so good. On Sunday, after a few skirmishes with Lando Norris, that actually continued seamlessly. “I just kept going and that went well,” De Limburger describes his first stint on the medium tires. “The car just did what I want. We really took a step and we see that again.”
That step was actually taken a week ago in Zandvoort, but Verstappen does not have to go far back for memories of his struggles with the RB21. “You felt like a passenger in some races, but now we do have the right balance. And then the tires also do normal,” he points to the life of the rubber. Normally that is a force of the McLaren, the car that put an end to the dominant period of Red Bull in the course of 2024.
Nevertheless, Red Bull continues to develop. The team screwed a new floor on the Verstappen car this weekend and there was also a set of wings specially designed for Monza. But according to Marko, that is not all. The Austrian praises another preparation process, in which the drivers are listened to better. “And if you have such a fast and experienced driver as Max, then that’s the right way. He has to drive it. The entire team is more open-minded and does not blindly follow what the simulations say.”
So Verstappen more or less pushed his way over the rear wing. “There were some worries that the balance would be disturbed,” explains team boss Laurent Mekies. This therefore concerned a special ‘Monza’ rear wing with less Air Serstan, as Ferrari always has. “But Max stayed at his position and eventually helped to get that balance back.”
A year after the monster, Red Bull passed his goal
Mekies likes to see the Italian Grand Prix of 2024 as the starting point, when Verstappen described his car as a monster. “At that time we were really in trouble. But they analyzed extensively last year and came up with a good solution. Too well, because they have actually passed their goal,” he laughs at the almost 20 seconds of Verstappen at the finish. “It was then also decided that we needed that specific rear wing for this circuit. And it worked well.”
But Mekies also mainly looks at his driver. “Max had a perfect weekend. So strong. That’s why we had not expected this speed difference, but that was there. Everything pointed to a faster McLaren. We really assumed a defensive race.”
Marko also does not want to ignore the role of the new team boss. “Laurent is a great engineer. That makes the preparation simply different: it is more a combination of what the simulations tell us, combined with the experience that Max has. And that our engineers also have. Make a car that is predictable and easily controllable. That is now the product.”
Verstappen also praises the team boss who took over from Christian Horner in Spa-Francorchamps. “Until now we had many races in which we went in all directions with the adjustment, with extreme changes. We had no grip on it, it didn’t always understand. But Laurent asks the right questions, logical questions. That works really well.”
‘My contribution is zero, really’
The modest Mekies itself does not want to know anything about it two hours after the race in the home of Red Bull. “My contribution is really zero, not a joke,” he says with a combination of champagne and Red Bull still in his hair. “Fifteen hundred people are working on that car. The meeting of those talents makes this car fast. My only role is that those talents can do what they have to do. That is my only contribution. That is it, nothing more.”
The big question now is of course what this means for the upcoming races. Mekies repeats that Monza is a strange circuit. “In Baku we will find out if everything we have learned here also applies to other circuits.”
Waché mainly sees a growing momentum within Red Bull. “Are we going to win more now? I hope so,” laughs the techie. “It’s all about that new direction with the adjustment. But McLaren is still fast, you have to deal with that.”
“We’re not suddenly back”
Verstappen wants to stay careful. “It is not that we are suddenly completely back. It still depends on the circuit. This is a job that you don’t need so much downforce. Then we are always a little more competitive. But we now just understand what we have to do. Yet one job remains more difficult for us than the other.”
Baku belongs through the gigantic long straight according to the ever -optimistic Marko, especially on the jobs that the reinvented Red Bull should lie. “That is a fast circuit, so I am very positive about that. For Singapore I also hope. But with this spirit everything is possible. Max is also so motivated now, I have not seen that for a long time. He is no longer talking about racing with GT cars,” he points to all the Dutchman’s cousin activities.
However, as a good predictor, Marko can also claim some success. On Friday, to surprise reporters, he already stated that Verstappen had a good chance to win on Monza. He was right. “But you are always shocked when I say something.”
Pole position, a dominant victory, and a large lead over the competition: Max Verstappen seemed to have stepped into a time machine to 2023 in the Italian Grand Prix. His win at Monza Mainly shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel for red bull.
While the Straight at Monza is Still Filled with Thousands of Ferrari Fans, Pierre Waché Returns from the Podium. The French Technical Director of Red Bull Has Just had a Champagne Shower from Race Winner Verstappen.
With the drops still on his Glasses, Waché Gives his Verdict with a Broad Smile. “Firstly, this was due to a fantastic driver,” he compliments Verstappen. “The team has also done a great job with the car’s setup.”
The Frenchman Confirms That Verstappen himself Put His Stamp on the Final Setup on Saturday. “I Admit I Didn’t QUITE SEE IT AT FIRST,” HE LAUDHS.
A Little Further On, Helmut Marko Explains what it was all about. “It was important to have a bit more top speed,” he refers to the size of the rear wing on Verstappen’s car. “And that ultimately proved important in distancing the McLarens.”
‘Car Did What I Want’
Verstappen himself Said after qualifying on Saturday that it had leg a long time since he felt so good. On Sunday, that continued seamlesly after a few skirmishes with lando norris. “I Just Kept Going and it Went Well,” The Limburger Describes His First Stint on the Medium Tires. “The car just did what I want. We’ve really tasks a step and we’re seeing that reflected.”
That Step was actual tasks a week ago in Zandvoort, but Verstappen Doesn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’T Far Back for Memories of his struggles with the RB21. “You felt like a passenger in some races, but now we do have the right balance. And then the tires also Behave normally,” He points to the lifespan of the rubber. Normally that is a Strength of the McLaren, The Car That Ended Red Bull’s Dominant Period in the Course Of 2024.
Yet Red Bull Continues to Develop. The Team Bolted A New Floor Versto Verstappen’s Car This Weekend and There Was also A Set of Wings Designed Specifically for Monza. But accordance to marko, that’s not all. The Austrian Praises a Different Preparation Process, in which the drivers are Listed to Better. “And if you have such a fast and experienced driver as max, then’s the right way. He has to drive it. The whole team is more open-minded and Doesn’t Blindly follow what the simulations say.”
So Verstappen More or Less Pushed Through His Way About The Rear Wing. “There were some concerns that the balance would be disturbed,” Explains team Boss Laurent Mekies. This Involved a Special ‘Monza’ Rear Wing With Less Air Resistance, As Ferrari Always Has. “But max stuck to his position and ultimately helped to get that balance back.”
A Year After The Monster, Red Bull Overshot Its Target
Mekies Likes to See the 2024 Italian Grand Prix As A Starting Point, When Verstappen described His car as a monster. “Then we were really in trouble. But they analyzed it extensively last year and came with a good solution. Too good, Because They actual overshot Their Target,” He points with a smile to Verstappen’s Almost Lead at the finish. “It was also decided that we needed that specific rear wing for this circuit. And it worked well.”
But Mekies also mainly looks at his driver. “Max had a perfect weekend. So Strong. That’s why was Possible. We had counted on this speed differentence, but it was there. Everything pointed to a faster mclaren. We were real -alling a defensive racing.”
Marko also Wants to Acknowledge the Role of the New Team Boss. “Laurent is a great engineer. With that, the preparation is just different: it’s more a combination of what the simulations tell us, combined with the experience that max has. And that engineers also has. Make a car that is the product.”
Verstappen also praises the Team Boss Who Took over from Christian Horner in Spa-Francorchamps. “Until now, we had many races where we went in all directives with the setup, with extreme changes. We had no grip on it, Didn’t Always Understand it either. But Laurent Asks the Right Questions, Logical Questions. This Works. This works.”
‘My Contribution is Zero, Really’
The Modest Mekies himself Wants to Hear Nothing of It Two Hours After the Race in Red Bull’s accommodation. “My Contribution is really zero, no joke,” he says a combination of champagne and red bull still in his hair. “There are fifteen hundred people working on that car. The coming together of those
The Big Question Now, of Course, is what this mean for the upcoming races. Mekies Reiterates That Monza is a Peculiar circuit. “In Baku We Will Find out Whether Everything We have learned here also applies to other circuits.”
Waché Mainly Sees A Growing Momentum Within Red Bull. “Are we going to win more now? I hope so,” The Technician Laughs. “It’s mainly about that new direction with the setup. But McLaren is still fast, you have to deal with that.”
‘We’re not Suddenly Back’
Verstappen Wants to Remain Cautious. “It’s not that we’re Suddenly Completing Back. It still depends on the circuit. This is a track where you don’t need so much downforce. Then we are always a bit more competitive. other. “
Baku, Due to the Gigantic Long Straight, Accordance to the ever-optimistic Marko, Certainly Belongs to the tracks that the Reinvented Red Bull Should Suit. “That is a fast circuit, so I am very positive about that. I also have hope for singapore. But with this spirit everything is Possible. Max is also so motivated now, I harbor’t SEEN that in a long time. Laugh about all the side activities of the Dutchman.
Yet marko, as a good predictor himself, can also claim some success. On Friday, to the surprise of reporters, he stated that Verstappen had a good chance of winning at Monza. He was right. “But you are always shocked when I say something.”