Max Verstappen Struggles: Red Bull RB21’s Technical Problems Explained

The three-time world champion Max Verstappen is longing for his biggest challenge with the Red Bull RB 21. No matter how well Max Verstappen is one of the most talented Formula 1 drivers in the sport, he cannot overcome the severe technical problems with his Red Bull car this season. The RB21 has not been able to keep up with the speed of McLaren, and Max Verstappen has been battling to extinguish a problem that not even a high degree of driving ability can curb.

The poor performance of Red Bull in the 2024 season’s first half has sent shockwaves to many fans. The squad that ruled the last few seasons is chasing now, with Max Verstappen failing to squeeze the performance to be in the game to win regularly.

Why the Red Bull RB21 Has Major Design Flaws

The issue of the Red Bull RB21 is rooted to its very core. The technical experts have come up with some of the main problems that make the car hard to handle even by Max Verstappen.

The maximum issue is nonstop understeer, or the front of the car is not steerable as much as Max Verstappen likes it. This understeer problem is extended to the previous year of RB20 model, yet the team could not resolve it during the new season. The technical team of Red Bull made an attempt to bypass these basic issues rather than correcting them.

Poor aerodynamic efficiency is also experienced in the car. This implies that RB21 does not slice through the air as fine as rivals such as McLaren. The car cannot attain sufficient downforce and still have excellent straight-line performance even when outstanding talent as Max Verstappen, is available to drive the car.

The second problem is the very rigid front suspension system. Although this was meant to assist in some matters of handling, in reality, it only increases the understeer in Max Verstappen. Such a front end is so stiff that in sharp turns, the weight is shifted on the backward wheels too much; thus, the car is unpredictable.

Red Bull has experimented with several solutions during the season. In Japan, they came up with a narrow rear end style to enhance the air flow. At Miami and Imola, they altered the underside of the car, mostly temporary patch-ups as opposed to a real solution of their basic troubles.