Max Verstappen says the start problems Red Bull have had in recent races still haven’t been solved.
He will start today’s race from fourth on the grid but has made poor getaways in recent races at Spa, Hockenheim and the Red Bull Ring.Verstappen confirmed the team is still working on the problem and said “we’ll find out” whether it’s been fixed on Sunday.
“We always try to do the best we can as a team. Within Red Bull and of course Honda I know we worked really well together to try to get better at it. It’s something we know that we have to improve but it’s also not an easy fix at the moment.
“But it’s not always been bad. We’ve had a few starts which have not been ideal and they have been highlighted but sometimes we’ve had starts which were good, good enough, let’s say.
“I also don’t put too much pressure on it. We know that we have to improve. But if you start stressing about it it will only work in reverse.”
While Verstappen is unsure how much progress he might make at the start, he also doubts the new DRS zone added to the track this year will make a significant difference to overtaking during the race. “Probably if you’re in traffic it will help you a little bit,” he said.
“But the problem is you come from a very low-speed corner where if you are behind you have really poor traction. So before you actually then get the effect of the DRS you’re already midway to the braking zones. I honestly don’t think it’s going to give you a lot.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2019 F1 season
- Crying in the Melbourne car park at 2019 grand prix was my career low – Ocon
- McLaren Racing reports reduced £71 million loss in 2019
- Kvyat: Hockenheim podium last year was “my biggest achievement” so far
- How the FIA’s new encrypted fuel flow meter targets Ferrari’s suspected ‘aliasing’ trick
- “He smashed my office door”: 23 must-see moments from ‘Drive to Survive’ season two
kpcart
22nd September 2019, 9:29
In the last 2 races the only start problem was the return of crashtappen, ruining himself 2 potential podiums
Philups
22nd September 2019, 18:58
@kpcart
Today confirmed Spa was all Kimi’s fault; he seems to be completely unaware of other drivers.
And there was no crashtappen in Monza, only avoidstappen….image Hulkenberg, Vettel, Danny Ric or basically any other driver and it would have been Spa all over, all thanks to Grosjean standing still in the middle of the corner.
Just the fact you’re talking about him missing a podium in Monza shows how clueless you are!
F1oSaurus (@)
22nd September 2019, 10:34
It’s only Verstappen who’s had start problems though. It’s not really a “Red Bull” issue is it?
anon
22nd September 2019, 11:18
@f1osaurus, whilst there is a tendency to focus on Verstappen at the start of a race, which might make it look as if he is the only one having those issues, Gasly also had some poor starts whilst at Red Bull (the German GP saw him suffer from similar issues, as one example).
That said, this particular problem seems to be specific to the Red Bull works team – it may be that they’ve been overlooked, but I don’t have any recollection of the Toro Rosso drivers having the same issue.
F1oSaurus (@)
22nd September 2019, 17:21
Oh come on, Gasly was poor at anything when in that car and he actually blazed past Verstappen a few times at the start.