Red Bull’s Vegas Disaster: Missing Rear Wing Leaves Verstappen and Perez Fighting for Survival

Red Bull’s Vegas Disaster: Missing Rear Wing Leaves Verstappen and Perez Fighting for Survival

 

 

Red Bull faces a significant challenge at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, hampered by the lack of a low-downforce rear wing. This oversight has left the team struggling with a straight-line speed deficit compared to their rivals.

 

 

 

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez struggled in the opening practice sessions, finishing FP2 in P17 and P19, respectively. The rear wing on their RB20 has become a hot topic, as the car lags behind by about 7 km/h on the straights—costing an estimated six-tenths of a second per lap.

 

 

 

 

To mitigate the issue, Red Bull attempted to “trim” the rear wing between FP1 and FP2, but the adjustments have proven insufficient against teams equipped with purpose-built low-drag configurations. According to Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, the team lacks an alternative rear wing and won’t be able to ship one to Las Vegas in time.

 

 

 

 

This raises questions about why the reigning constructors’ champions chose not to develop a low-drag wing for this race. While other teams invested in specific low-downforce parts for circuits like Monza, Red Bull allocated their budget elsewhere—a decision driven by the F1 cost cap. Previously, this strategy hadn’t hurt the team, but with the RB20 being less dominant than its predecessors, the limitations are now evident.

 

 

 

For Verstappen, the speed deficit could jeopardize his bid to clinch a fourth consecutive drivers’ title in Las Vegas. If Lando Norris reduces the points gap from 62 to less than 60, the championship battle could extend to Qatar.