Max Verstappen has taken a bold stance, claiming that Red Bull's decision not to develop a low-drag rear wing has cost them two weekends of racing this season. Speaking after he secured a fifth-place starting position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen expressed frustration over the constraints Red Bull is facing on the fast circuit due to their current aerodynamic setup.

During qualifying, Verstappen was almost half a second off the pace set by George Russell, and he believes that the existing rear wing is inadequate for the high-speed challenges presented by the Las Vegas track. “No, we opted to not make one,” Verstappen explained about the wing configuration. “We don’t have one. This issue has persisted since 2022. We never anticipated having to run with such low downforce, and with the implementation of the budget cap, we have had to make tough choices,” he lamented.

Verstappen emphasized that despite his team’s historical performance, this particular setup is costing them significantly. “Would I have liked to have a lower downforce wing? Absolutely. Or at least a different, more efficient shape. We’ll take a look at it, but with only one more year left under these regulations, I'm unsure if it’s worth our effort,” he stated.

Pointing out the critical impact on their speed, he remarked, “For me, it feels like we are throwing away two race weekends. We are losing too much on the straights.” He explained that the weaknesses extend beyond straight-line speed, indicating issues during cornering as well, which compounds their disadvantage. “With our current wing setup, we struggle to gain top speed, even with DRS activated. It’s definitely a handicap we anticipated, particularly on tracks like this and Monza,” Verstappen elaborated.

Adding to the challenge, Verstappen noted issues with tire performance, stating that they faced difficulties getting the tires into the optimal operating window. Despite these challenges, he believed they had maximized their qualifying potential, ultimately securing P5 amid a series of tribulations. “We got a bit lucky with Lewis not posting a time; otherwise, it could have been P6. Given our circumstances, I think we did the best we could.”

Looking ahead to the race, Verstappen is optimistic about overtaking Pierre Gasly but is wary of the speed of the three drivers ahead of him. With the possibility of clinching his fourth drivers’ championship during this race, he expressed concern about McLaren’s improved performance. “I hope to compete against an Alpine, but right now, it seems I can’t match Ferrari or Mercedes; they are simply faster,” Verstappen contemplated, referencing Lewis Hamilton starting from P10 and expected to advance.

In stark contrast, Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez faced a disappointing exit in Q1. Sharing his struggles, Perez mentioned, “I think we have a fundamental issue with the car that is just not working for me. It’s difficult to focus on my performance when I’m constantly trying to resolve these issues. You want to compete at the front, especially knowing your capabilities, but without grip, mistakes become unavoidable.

As the Las Vegas Grand Prix approaches, the drama surrounding Red Bull’s aerodynamic choices and the ongoing struggles within the team could heavily influence the outcome, and fans are left eagerly anticipating how this race will unfold with so much at stake! Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling race!