Why do they all fall next to Verstappen? This former Red Bull driver knows

15:23, 13 Jun

Updated: 16:07, 13 Jun

byLudo van Denderen

For years, it has been a major issue for Red Bull Racing: regardless of who takes the second seat next to Max Verstappen, they all inevitable fall to four-time world champion, hence the 'cursed' aura surrounding it. Alexander Albon knows why.

It is always the intention that drivers from the own Junior Team at Racing Bulls (and its predecessors) gain experience, to then take the step to Red Bull Racing. Albon is an expert on this experience. He too got the opportunity early in his career to race alongside Verstappen at Red Bull Racing after spending half a season time at the sister team.

What makes the Red Bull car difficult?

Just like Liam Lawson in his time, and Yuki Tsunoda is currently experiencing, the Thai found the job at the Austrian team particularly difficult and had to leave after a year and a half. “I think the [Red Bull Racing] cars are on a knife edge," Albon said on the media day of the Canadian Grand Prix. "I think Max can drive it. Obviously I can speak from experience – I struggled a bit."

" It's also difficult because – maybe it's my own interpretation of it – but the RB is quite a forgiving car. It's quite well balanced, it's very stable, it gives you a lot of confidence."

“And I think it's naturally become that kind of car because they always have rookies in that car. So the foundations of the team is built on young drivers," Albon added.

Max Verstappen can indeed handle the RB21

Albon now ready for Red Bull

Driving a Red Bull Racing car is not so simple, as Yuki Tsunoda is currently realizing. "And then the Red Bull is almost [the other] extreme. You're going from one of the cars that’s most forgiving to the trickiest. And so you're having to adapt quite a lot to two very different cars."

Albon realizes that this can be a significant challenge for a young driver. He himself would now just be able to handle the Red Bull car, believes the Williams driver. "I think with the experience I have now, I'd be able to get around it, but it's not something that feels that natural to most drivers."