Max Verstappen's Unusual Demand Fueled Red Bull's Monza Victory

Red Bull arrived at the Italian Grand Prix confident after addressing their 2024 issues. However, their surprising victory over McLaren was largely due to a critical car configuration call demanded by Max Verstappen on Saturday.

Why it matters

Verstappen's insistence on an extreme low-downforce rear wing, despite engineering skepticism, was a high-stakes gamble that ultimately paid off, transforming what was predicted to be a defensive race into a dominant win.

The details

• Aggressive Wing Choice: Red Bull introduced a new bespoke Monza wing package. For final FP3 runs, they switched to an even more extreme version with an aggressive cut-out on the upper flap for higher top speed.
• Performance vs. Risk:
  • Telemetry showed 6-8 km/h faster on straights but slower in the middle sector corners.
  • The car's balance felt "nervous" due to lack of downforce, leading to a loose rear end.
  • Engineers worried about increased tire degradation in the race from excessive sliding.
• Verstappen's Insistence: Despite initial skepticism from the technical team in the post-FP3 debrief, Verstappen firmly pushed for the "skinnier" rear wing.
• Team Adaptation: To compensate for the balance issues, the team adjusted the front wing, adding more flap to help Verstappen attack corners and improve rotation – an unusual setup approach.
• Qualifying Success: The strategy immediately paid off as Verstappen secured pole position.

Race Pace Surprise

Pre-race predictions indicated McLaren held an advantage in race pace. Team Principal Laurent Mekies stated they expected a "defence race."

• Unexpected Dominance: Contrary to expectations, Red Bull exhibited superior race pace. Mekies believes the unique car configuration, setup, Verstappen's wing choice, and perfect execution unlocked unexpected performance.
• Driver Comfort: Verstappen reported feeling much more comfortable, noting the car had more balance and the tires behaved "more normal," a stark contrast to previous unbalanced races.

What's next

Red Bull will now explore if the insights gained and the comfortable balance found at Monza can be applied to future venues, potentially offering a significant step forward in car development.