Schumacher slams Red Bull: 'Newey's successor is not up to the task.'
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There are just six races to go in the 2024 Formula 1 season. Both the world title and the constructors' title are still up for grabs in what has been an extremely competitive year. The title battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris is set to go down to the wire. Six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher argues that Red Bull's performance in Austin will say a lot about what their RB20 will be capable of for the rest of the season.
Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, F1 teams have a few weeks to fit their latest updates to their cars before the final stretch of the season. Red Bull Racing are expected to bring some components to the Circuit of the Americas. Speaking to Formel1.de, Ralf Schumacher believes that if Red Bull performs badly, McLaren could well and truly run away with the constructors title.
Schumacher: The next race will be 'an indicator' for Red Bull
"It will definitely be an indicator for them. The fast and long curves, where you can go in deep, which is definitely a strength from Red Bull, if it doesn't work for them there, then Max will have an issue, and will have consequences for the rest of the season," he began.
"Wache is not up to the task"
The German also questioned the technical team of the Milton-Keynes-based squad: "I think that maybe Pierre Waché is not up to the task. I think that maybe he can't do it as well as Adrian Newey could. He's kind of lacking between the relationship between the driver and the optimum of the car. I hope for Red Bull that they can work on everything, I feel like it's going to be a tough time for Red Bull," Schumacher stated.
The F1 veteran believes that Red Bull could be in a worse position without their star man. "Mostly if Verstappen does decide to leave someday. Because we do see again, what difference he made in the last race."
The Dutchman is arguably the best driver Red Bull has produced. The three-time world champion continues to extract the most from his RB20, even when he isn't comfortable in the car.
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This article was written in collaboration with Sandy van Wijngaarden