IMOLA, ITALY – MAY 19: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing attend the press conference after the F1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 19, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
In a recent extensive discussion about Formula 1, the topic “F1 is boring because Verstappen keeps winning” was addressed by Paul Velasco, Chief Editor of GrandPrix247. Velasco pointed out that Red Bull cannot be blamed for their success. Instead, the blame lies with teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, who struggled immensely at the start of the current F1 regulations in 2022 while Red Bull excelled.
While Mercedes continues to struggle and their W15 is not better than their aggressive predecessors, both McLaren and Ferrari have made significant improvements. McLaren, in particular, has made great strides and is now challenging Red Bull and Verstappen. Although McLaren finished the 2023 season strongly, they had a slow start in 2024. On the other hand, Ferrari had a good start but stumbled later on. While the Papaya cars are currently faster than the Red Bull cars, the latter is expected to close the gap with the introduction of the updated SF-24 in Imola and the updated MCL38 in Miami. However, it will take time for the Italian team to adjust their performance.
At this point, we can only praise the efforts of the McLaren team in Woking. For the first time in 2024, there is genuine hope that the rest of the season will not be “boring because Max is winning.” Even if Verstappen continues to dominate, it will not be easy, which always adds excitement to the races.
That said, let’s look at the key points of the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where we witnessed the current F1 champion and his team in action.
In a surprising twist, the McLaren MCL38 proved to be the fastest Formula 1 car at Imola, breaking the streak of cars designed by Adrian Newey that had dominated since 2022. Although Red Bull has not yet updated their car like their competitors, this has not hindered their performance in the past. Even when McLaren introduced an innovative upgrade last year, they could only secure second place, unable to match Red Bull’s dominance.
What is concerning is that, for the second consecutive race, Red Bull arrived at the track with an initial setup that did not work. This was evident in Miami, when Verstappen struggled for grip and lost to Norris. In Imola, Verstappen did not feel comfortable with the RB20, especially in the second sector. However, Red Bull managed to turn the situation around overnight with the help of a simulator session overnight with Sebastian Buemi, as revealed by team principal Christian Horner.
Verstappen took charge during qualifying and put in an impressive lap in Q3, aided by the slipstream from Nico Hulkenberg, securing pole position by a narrow margin. In the race, Red Bull could not maintain a significant advantage and, in the end, McLaren began to close in. Verstappen’s skill and talent were crucial in holding off Norris.
Ultimately, Verstappen’s exceptional performance in Imola highlighted his ability to win with a car that was effectively the second fastest on the track. Those who previously claimed that Verstappen’s success was solely due to the car will have to reconsider their position after the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Personally, I was disappointed that none of the McLarens secured pole position, especially Oscar Piastri, who showed great promise in his fully upgraded MCL38. However, Piastri’s drop to fifth position due to a penalty for blocking Kevin Magnussen during qualifying was unfortunate and dampened the excitement for Sunday’s race. If Piastri had started in second alongside Norris, the competition would have been even more thrilling.
McLaren has made significant improvements to their car and we can only hope they continue to progress. However, they need to address operational errors like the incident with Piastri. Additionally, both Piastri and his teammate need to step up and handle the pressure of competing for wins more consistently.
The final stages of the race saw Norris relentlessly chasing Verstappen, creating an exciting spectacle. These two talented drivers pushed themselves to the limit in pursuit of victory. Although Norris claimed he would have won if the race had lasted a few more laps, it is doubtful. Catching Verstappen was one thing, but overtaking him proved to be a completely different challenge.
Norris needs to demonstrate the characteristics of a supreme predator possessed by all F1 champions if he wants to establish himself as a true contender.
As mentioned earlier, Ferrari had a more favorable start to the 2024 season compared to McLaren and currently sits in second place in the F1 Constructors’ Championship. Their significant overhaul of the SF-24 in Imola proved successful, and although the red car looked fast, it did not perform well when it truly mattered, suggesting there was a flashy display to please loyal fans.
However, this does not mean that Ferrari has made a mistake. Charles Leclerc, who finished just over seven seconds behind Verstappen at the end of the 63-lap race, serves as evidence that the team is on the right track. Team boss Fred Vasseur made a point of highlighting this fact.
In my opinion, Ferrari needs more time to fully understand their Red Bull-inspired upgrade (have you seen the sidepod entries?). In a few races, they should have a better understanding of the setup, allowing them to unlock additional performance and speed. Therefore, I hope and anticipate that Ferrari will soon rise to the challenge. With a long season ahead, we may witness an exciting three-way battle for victories until the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
It is crucial for Red Bull to introduce significant improvements to their RB20. Otherwise, they risk appearing weak, especially after the announcement of Adrian Newey’s departure. Despite this, team boss Christian Horner emphasized that the technical department will not be negatively affected by the departure of their legendary F1 designer.
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Neymar Jr. scores two goals in PSG’s victory over Lyon
Neymar Jr. shone once again on the field and scored two decisive goals in Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) victory over Lyon. The game, which took place at Parc des Princes, ended with a 3-1 scoreline in favor of the home team.
Neymar’s first goal came at the 20th minute of the first half, after a beautiful individual play. He dribbled past two opponents and finished with precision, shaking the net and opening the scoring for PSG.
The Brazilian star’s second goal came at the 35th minute of the second half. He received a perfect pass from Mbappé and, with a powerful shot, extended PSG’s lead.
With this victory, PSG remains at the top of the French championship, with a comfortable advantage over the other competitors. Neymar Jr. has been a key player in the team’s campaign, showing all his skill and talent on the field.
PSG fans are excited about Neymar Jr.’s performance and believe he can lead the team to achieve the long-awaited Champions League title. The player has shown excellent chemistry with his teammates and has been decisive in the most important matches.
PSG’s next match will be against Marseille, in a classic of French football. Fans are eager to see Neymar Jr. in action again and expect another great performance from the Brazilian star.
Neymar Jr. has established himself as one of the best players in the world and continues to win fans and admirers with his on-field performances. His technical ability and his ability to decide games have been crucial to PSG’s success.
The player has also been involved in social actions and has shown his charitable side off the field. Neymar Jr. is an example of a complete athlete who not only shines on the field but also cares about the well-being of society.
The expectation is that Neymar Jr. will continue to shine and win titles with PSG, taking the team to even higher levels in the world football scene. Fans are confident that the Brazilian star will be key to the team’s success in the upcoming competitions.
