Purple Bull Racing has dominated Method 1 in recent times. After clinching the 2021 F1 Drivers Championship on the final minute, it went on to win back-to-back constructors and drivers crowns with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez on the wheel. This 12 months hasn’t been as superb for the crew, nonetheless, and the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix confirmed simply how far the crew has fallen.
Anybody who watched this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico Metropolis was in for a deal with. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz clinched a dominant win, the McLaren of Oscar Piastri raced via the pack and we even had a tidy duel from the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
One crew lacking from the sharp finish of proceedings was Purple Bull Racing. That was because of a 20-second penalty that was handed to Verstappen after he compelled his championship rival, Lando Norris, off observe. For his teammate, the misfortune went even additional again, and poor qualifying meant Perez was caught on the again combating in opposition to backmarkers all day. It was a weekend to overlook for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
The strikes that earned Verstappen his two 10-second penalties had been inexcusable. Only a week after he was caught up in controversies for working drivers huge, he pulled precisely the identical transfer once more in Mexico and a second, (very) late lunge on Norris noticed each drivers depart the observe. It was downright harmful driving from the triple-world-champ.
As for Perez, he seemed like a determined man racing for his life when he battled in opposition to the brand new signing at junior crew Visa Money App Racing Bull, Liam Lawson. The pair scrapped and traded blows whereas combating, which left Perez with injury that it may very well be mentioned ruined his house race, had he not certified in a lowly 18th place.
The efficiency of each drivers confirmed how far Purple Bull has fallen since its dominance final 12 months, when the crew picked up all-but-one race victories over the 2023 Method 1 season.
It is a downfall that’s been brewing since earlier than the 2024 season even kicked off. Previous to Purple Bull’s automobile launch, the crew was embroiled in a scandal centering round crew boss Christian Horner and allegations of inappropriate habits in the direction of a Purple Bull staffer.
On the time, Verstappen’s personal father warned that the scandal may tear the crew aside, and inside six months that gave the impression to be true. Famed automobile designer Adrian Newey has left Purple Bull after penning all six of its championship-winning automobiles. This was quickly adopted by the information that Purple Bull’s head of race technique Will Courtenay would even be departing to tackle a brand new position as sporting director of McLaren, reviews Autosport.
The departures had been adopted by a drop off in efficiency from Purple Bull, which just about rivals Mercedes fall from grace in 2022. Verstappen hasn’t received a race since Spain again in June and Perez’s greatest end result for the 12 months is simply second, which he has managed on solely three events over 20 races.
These poor performances imply that Purple Bull’s place on the prime of the standings is faltering. It dropped into second place after McLaren discovered its kind over the summer season break and Ferrari’s race win yesterday pushed the Italian crew forward as nicely.
Within the drivers’ competitors, Verstappen remains to be sitting fairly on the prime of the standings, however his sixth-place end in Mexico coupled with Norris’ podium means the Briton is lower than 50 factors away from the Dutchman with 4 races left to run.
In the beginning of this 12 months, you’d have been silly to place your cash on something apart from one other 12 months of Purple Bull dominance in F1. Now, after 20 races, it’s starting to look as if some critical modifications must be made if the crew desires to cling onto its trophies for one more 12 months.
