Max Verstappen has branded allegations that Red Bull’s plight in competitiveness is down to an illegal part being banned on its Formula 1 car mid-season as “bizarre”.
Verstappen began the campaign with four victories in the opening five races as Red Bull‘s RB20 maintained the dominant edge that its predecessor had over its rivals.
However, McLaren brought an upgrade package to Miami that transcended the MCL38 into a race-winning car as Red Bull went down a wrong path with development.
Verstappen has since endured an eight-race winless streak, turning what appeared an unassailable advantage into an overturnable gap with six rounds still remaining.
Red Bull’s downturn coincided with the FIA introducing a ban on asymmetric braking, prompting rumours that the reigning champions had been using such a solution.
The FIA denied that a team running the mechanism was behind the sudden rule change, though, and Verstappen has quashed the speculation that continues to linger.
“People always come up with different stuff,” Verstappen told Autosport.
“I find it really bizarre how they come up with some of these things, but it is what it is. It’s part of the game, but I usually just let it go.
“I’ve been in F1 for 10 years now and I’m not wasting time on all those stories. I mean, I barely read anything about F1 anyway.
“Of course, sometimes I see something or someone else tells me: “Did you see what this and that person said?’
“But I always say people can think what they want, I’m not going to waste my energy on that. So, I don’t really care about what other people say.”
Verstappen hits back at Brown claims
Red Bull’s unanticipated struggles have also been attributed to the impending exodus at the team, which includes design guru Adrian Newey opting to depart this role.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown revealed that more personnel had issued a desire to leave Red Bull, citing that the environment within the Austrian outfit had become “toxic”.
“People that say all sorts of stuff should just focus on their own team,” Verstappen responded when the topic was discussed.
“That’s nothing specifically against Zak Brown, by the way, it applies to everyone. People just need to focus on themselves, and that’s what I’m doing as well.”
Verstappen doubts repeat of 2021 tension
Verstappen goes into the closing events with a 52-point lead over Lando Norris, but Red Bull languishes 41 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship.
But while Norris is poised to continue reducing the gap, Verstappen has denied that the battle will become as heated as his 2021 duel with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
“Yes, because right now we still have four teams at the front, while back then you just had the same two people up front,” he explained.
“Of course, 2021 was my first World Championship, so that was very different already. I think I’m a bit more relaxed about it now.
“Of course, I want to win and of course, I’m going to do my best to defend that lead. But the feeling is very different from 2021.”
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