Source: Reuters/Bernadett Szabo
[Saba Sports News] The Red Bull F1 Team has confirmed that Max Verstappen will receive a comprehensive upgrade package for this weekend’s Hungarian F1 Grand Prix. The move is aimed at defending against recent challenges posed by the McLaren F1 Team and the Mercedes Sides F1 Team. The most notable changes involve modifications to the engine cover and cooling system, with the “shoulder” air intakes being removed from the race car. Surprisingly, teammate Sergio Perez only received minor upgrades and will race with a different configuration than Verstappen. Red Bull Racing’s Chief Engineer, Paul Monaghan, mentioned in interviews with RacingNews365 and other media outlets that the main difference between the two cars lies in the shape of the sidepods, without elaborating on the performance gap. Verstappen, in a humble manner during the interview, expressed his skepticism that the upgrades in Budapest would immediately restore Red Bull Racing’s previous advantage. Some fans pointed out that Verstappen had previously criticized the team’s development pace this season, believing that under the current stable regulations, the team faces cost caps and aerodynamic testing restrictions, making it challenging to effectively cope with the pursuit of other teams. In response to Verstappen’s critical comments, Red Bull Racing promptly provided him with a complete upgrade package. Evidently, Red Bull Racing intentionally concealed its true strength.