F1 winner hints at major Red Bull upgrade BEFORE Bahrain Grand Prix

Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Christian Horner at RB car launch event 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Off the Track

F1 winner hints at major Red Bull upgrade BEFORE Bahrain race

He believes the world champions may make some changes to their RB20

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Wednesday 21 February 2024 10:57

Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard has said that the Milton Keynes-based outfit will be bringing upgrades to their RB20 car throughout testing and, indeed, into the first race of the season.

The world champions unveiled their 2024 challenger last week ahead of a season in which they want to continue their dominance over the rest of the field.

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Their RB19 car of 2023 claimed 21 of a possible 22 race victories throughout the season, and managed to cruise to both world championship titles, allowing Max Verstappen to break multiple records on his way to a third successive drivers' title.

Although McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin all hope to make gains on Red Bull, the team head into the upcoming season as favourites to retain their titles.

Red Bull head into 2024 hoping to defend their world championships

David Coulthard drove with Red Bull between 2005-2008

Red Bull's 2024 title hopes

With attention turning to the RB19's successor, all eyes were on the team's car launch and first shakedown for any signs that 2024 may be a more closely-fought battle.

However, Coulthard has suggested that the current iteration of the RB20 may be slightly different to the one that fans see at the Bahrain GP.

“It’s a launch iteration," he told F1.com.

"There will be upgrades coming to the test up until the last day and there might even be an upgrade that comes for the Friday of the Bahrain race, and all of these upgrades are expected to change performance, balance and lap time.”

The Scotsman then spoke about what Verstappen and Sergio Perez had told him after driving the new car for the first time.

“Just that it functions as you would expect in those conditions – no surprises," Coulthard continued.

“I think the technical team were happy with the numbers they were getting in terms of the things you can get out of that, the cooling and load sensors.

“Even if you went out and thought the car was amazing in a shakedown, the only thing that matters is Saturday qualifying and ultimately Sunday race in Bahrain."

Red Bull Max Verstappen David Coulthard