Will Verstappen get updates like Ferrari and China soon?

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red bull does not seem to be coming up with updates for rb20 verstappen any time soon
25 May at 08:45
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  • Corwin Kunst

Ferrari and McLaren smell blood. Thanks to major updates, they are another step closer to the previously unapproachable Red Bull Racing. But what about updates from Red Bull Racing then? When can we expect them? Christian Horner tempers expectations in Monaco.

McLaren took to Miami with the necessary new parts, Ferrari did the same in Imola. Both teams have taken a leap in performance and now look set to challenge Red Bull in both qualifying and racing. However, updates of such magnitude do not seem to be in the offing for Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.

"I think we're a bit more iterative. So obviously we've bought some pieces here and there, and they've done what they've said on the tin," Horner said, going on to explain that - because the regulations have been constant for such a long time now - there are less and less gains to be made. "when you start to get to the top of the curve, you get into a law of diminishing returns in terms of the amount of development that is earning its place on the car."

Wind tunnel time and budget cap

Moreover, Red Bull havee less development time available in the wind tunnel to test developments. The higher a racing stable finishes in the constructors' championship, the less time is allowed from the FIA. By contrast, the last-place finisher in the 2023 world championship (Haas F1) is allowed the longest use of the wind tunnel in the first part of 2024.

And there is another, third and final crucial factor: "Of course, with a cost cap, now you have to be very selective of when you introduce those upgrades," said Horner, who did not comment further on how much budget is left for new parts the rest of the season.