Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Formula 1, Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen
Marcus Chan
Red Bull Racing have reportedly made a huge error by bringing the wrong part to the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
This weekend could be a crowning moment for reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen as a victory at Sin City would clinch his fourth successive world title.
However, the Dutchman has endured a tough start to the weekend after finishing fifth in FP1 and 17th in FP2.
It was then claimed that Red Bull had brought the wrong rear wing specification for the Las Vegas package.
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As reported by Auto Motor und Sport, the Red Bull cars are losing more than half a second on the straights due to the blunder.
The team's senior advisor, Helmut Marko, was asked whether they would fly in a new version before qualifying, he said, as per Planet F1: "No. We don't have another rear wing, a smaller rear wing, as we see it on our competitors. It would be more helpful, for sure."
Speaking about the car's overall performance, Marko added: "On the short run we didn't go out with a soft tyre, and the long run was only partly good.
"Some laps were competitive, but then the rear tyres were disappearing. There were flashes of speed. We just have to get consistency into it."
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He continued: "We need more balance. On the single lap we can improve. But on the long run, the tyre wear is a problem at the moment.
"Tomorrow is a different day. You maybe saw it a lot of times. People will be fastest on Friday or Thursday, but it doesn't mean that they are fast in the race. We will, for sure, make a reasonable step."
Meanwhile, Verstappen stated he struggled for grip on the track. He said: "[It was] slippery. I think we struggled a lot with making the tyres work, over one lap especially.
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"The long run I think started off a bit more competitive, but even there I think we need to fine-tune a few things. The one-lap pace is quite far off."
The Dutchman added: "Of course, it’s quite unique conditions around here and it’s very cold, but at the end of the day it’s the same for everyone, so we need to try and understand what we’re doing wrong at the moment.
"I mean, for me it just feels massively tyre-related. The balance of the car is not even that wrong, I think, it’s just we have no grip – it’s like driving on ice at the moment."