The Red Bull's weakness for curbs and bumps has been evident within the last 4 races in Miami, Imola, Monaco and Canada, and the RB20 has inherited some flaws from its predecessors that the team has yet to deal with.
Previous races had provided a possibility for Red Bull's rivals to catch up, thanks partially to the Milton Keynes-based team's difficulties and their very own improvements. Lando Norris took his first victory in Miami and Leclerc claimed an emotional victory at home in Monaco.
However, ahead of the race at more traditional high-downforce tracks reminiscent of Barcelona, Red Bull Ring and Silverstone, Ferrari driver Leclerc believes Red Bull will once more be firing on all cylinders at tracks where the RB20 can fully stretch its legs .
“I feel that Red Bull's strength will be more visible at a track like Barcelona,” Leclerc said after withdrawing from the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
“But let's wait and see. And behind me [Red Bull] I think we'll all be pretty close.”
George Russell, who qualified on pole in Montreal and took his first podium of the season within the improved Mercedes, said Max Verstappen still managed to win at Imola and Canada despite handling problems, suggesting Red Bull may have an even bigger advantage strength over rivals, one other European stage of racing.
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, within the garage
Photo: Mark Sutton / Motorsport images
“It's no secret that they've had some car problems in the last three races. And yet they have won two of the last three,” Russell warned.
“So I expect they are going to probably take a small step after we return to European racing on more conventional tracks.
“We'll must see how they perform in Barcelona, but the rise in pace we saw this weekend didn't surprise us as all of the numbers on the factory told us we were going. find much of the performance with these improvements.
“Barcelona will therefore be interesting for everyone, but I'm sure we can fight.”
McLaren's Lando Norris, who fought with Russell for second place in Sunday's wet and dry spectacle, admitted that Mercedes would now be the fourth driver within the lead.
“If they are faster in the next few races too and in a sense join the fight of Ferrari, Red Bull and us, it will only make our lives more exciting,” Norris said.
“It's tougher and stressful because now there’ll probably be eight cars fighting there and difficult us all. So it's exciting for us and possibly everyone watching.”
