Purple Bull Racing has dominated System 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 yr hasn’t been as wonderful for the staff, nonetheless, and the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix confirmed simply how far the staff 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 by the pack and we even had a tidy duel from the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
One staff lacking from the sharp finish of proceedings was Purple Bull Racing. That was due to 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 preventing towards 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 have been inexcusable. Only a week after he was caught up in controversies for operating drivers broad, he pulled precisely the identical transfer once more in Mexico and a second, (very) late lunge on Norris noticed each drivers go away 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 towards the brand new signing at junior staff Visa Money App Racing Bull, Liam Lawson. The pair scrapped and traded blows whereas preventing, which left Perez with harm that it may very well be stated ruined his residence 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 yr, when the staff picked up all-but-one race victories over the 2023 System 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 staff was embroiled in a scandal centering round staff 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 staff aside, and inside six months that seemed to be true. Famed automobile designer Adrian Newey has left Purple Bull after penning all six of its championship-winning vehicles. 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 function as sporting director of McLaren, experiences Autosport.
The departures have been adopted by a drop off in efficiency from Purple Bull, which nearly rivals Mercedes fall from grace in 2022. Verstappen hasn’t gained a race since Spain again in June and Perez’s finest outcome for the yr 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 type over the summer season break and Ferrari’s race win yesterday pushed the Italian staff forward as properly.
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.
Firstly of this yr, you’d have been silly to place your cash on something aside from one other yr of Purple Bull dominance in F1. Now, after 20 races, it’s starting to look as if some critical adjustments should be made if the staff desires to cling onto its trophies for an additional yr.
