Formula 1 News: Red Bull Pushes for Upgrades Amid Sliding Scale Regulations
World Champion Max Verstappen has called on Red Bull to maintain its development push as the impact of Formula 1’s sliding scale aerodynamic testing regulations begins to unfold.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit has been the dominant force in F1 since the introduction of the ground effect era in 2022, with Verstappen and Red Bull claiming both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles. However, the current campaign has painted a different picture at the midway stage, with several rivals finding success.
“Naturally, it will always help to have more time but that’s how the rules are, right? To try to slow down the winning team,” Verstappen said, referring to the sliding scale regulations that grant more testing time to the lower-ranked teams. “When you are the ones chasing, you are happy when it is like that and, when you are the ones leading and being caught up during the season, you look at it like it is not what you want.”
Despite Verstappen’s continued lead in the drivers’ standings, both Ferrari and Mercedes drivers, as well as McLaren‘s Lando Norris, have tasted victory this season. This has led the three-time champion to call for Red Bull to maintain its development efforts, with the team arriving at the British Grand Prix with an upgrade package.
“We need to keep pushing, we need to keep bring bits – and I know they will come and hopefully they will be a little bit better than the upgrades at the other teams,” Verstappen said, emphasizing the importance of continuous development.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, has previously warned that the team could face the law of diminishing returns due to its strong start under the current technical regulations. However, Verstappen dismissed this notion, stating, “I refuse to believe so, because then you just get lazy. I am confident that everyone within the factory, they are always pushing flat out to try and bring bits of performance to the car, but there are a lot of smart people in other teams that are also doing the same thing.”
As the Formula 1 season progresses, the battle for the championships remains intense, with Red Bull facing increasing pressure from its rivals. Verstappen’s call for continued development highlights the team’s determination to maintain its dominance and fend off the challenges from Ferrari, Mercedes, and others.
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