As Formulation 1 entered its summer time shutdown, Crimson Bull discovered themselves in an unfamiliar place, at the very least as latest historical past goes. With only a 42-point lead over McLaren — a quantity that might mathematically be erased this weekend on the Dutch Grand Prix — hypothesis lingered that to enhance their Constructors’ Championship possibilities, a change could be made to their driver lineup.
Nonetheless, the crew went in a unique route, with Crimson Bull Staff Principal Christian Horner asserting at the beginning of the shutdown that Sergio Pérez, whose poor run of type helped open the door to McLaren’s cost, could be again within the RB20 following the break.
Horner addressed the determination talking with Sky Sports activities F1 at Zandvoort on Friday, calling it a matter of “efficiency.”
“It’s all about efficiency. For us, we’ve received the 2 drivers that we consider in our pool of drivers are essentially the most able to giving us one of the best outcomes,” mentioned Horner. “If there was a doubt in that then we might have modified it.
“We’ve got one of the best two drivers on this automobile and if we felt there was one thing higher we might have modified it by now.”
Horner indicated when talking on the crew’s Milton Keynes manufacturing facility at the beginning of the shutdown that some favorable circuits had been developing for Pérez. The Crimson Bull boss continued that line of thought on Friday.
“We all know what Checo is able to,” he informed Sky Sports activities F1. “We all know that firstly of the 12 months he was scoring properly, 4 podiums in 5 races.
“I believe he’s simply had a insecurity and has ended up in a little bit of a spiral. He’s had a little bit of a reset, hopefully, over the summer time break.
“We all know that there’s tracks that he’s received at developing. We’ve received Azerbaijan the place he’s received each dash race and grand prix on the identical weekend. He’s received a implausible race in Singapore in opposition to Charles Leclerc in blended situations. He’s been very fast at Monza.”
Nonetheless, Horner did concede that Zandvoort won’t be Pérez’s greatest circuit. The Crimson Bull driver completed fourth on the Dutch Grand Prix a season in the past.
“Zandvoort hasn’t been his greatest circuit, so of the 4 races developing earlier than the subsequent mini-break, I might say that is his most difficult one,” added the Crimson Bull boss.
Complicating issues is perhaps the truth that after the primary two observe classes, Pérez’s teammate lamented that for the time being, Crimson Bull is just “too sluggish” at Zandvoort.
“After all, in FP1 I didn’t actually get lots of working in. I assume in FP2 you may see slightly bit extra the place you’re. [We’re] a bit too sluggish on the brief run, a bit too sluggish on the long term, so a bit of labor to do,” mentioned Max Verstappen to the official F1 channel.
“In the meanwhile, [there’s] no clear reply of enhance that particularly, however we’ll look into issues. Only a bit too sluggish, so simple as that.”
We’ll see if Pérez and firm can get issues sorted in time for qualifying on Saturday.