Red Bull could foil Ferrari-Mercedes title duel
THE Formula One title fight may be a matter for Mercedes and Ferrari alone but Red Bull could be a major factor now they seem to have found the pace to match the big two.
Max Verstappen’s emphatic Malaysia Grand Prix win on Sunday, nine seconds ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, was the latest indication that the Austrian team is a force to be reckoned with in the last five season races.
Hamilton is 34 points ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the title race, and depending on their finish in the remaining races Red Bull could take badly needed points away from them.
That even more as Mercedes are concerned about lacking pace and Ferrari have been befallen by engine problems and bad luck.
“To beat Mercedes fair and square was beyond our expectation. When we walked to the grid I thought we had a great race car but I didn’t think it was going to be quite that great,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said in Malaysia.
Verstappen is out of the title race in sixth place and teammate Daniel Ricciardo only has a theoretical chance in fourth but the two will be making life difficult for the others.
“You can never predict how the rest of the season will go but we keep improving the car and it is looking positive,” Verstappen said.
“So hopefully from now onwards we can build on this for the rest of the year and then have a good start to next season.”
Red Bull went through a torrid 2014 season after winning four straight drivers’ (Vettel) and constructors’ titles 2010-13 but have slowly recovered since then and could a major force in 2018.
Ricciardo completed Red Bull’s first double podium in a year by finishing third in Sepang, and was also upbeat for the final races starting with Sunday’s Japanese GP in Suzuka.
“There were a few extra bits available for the cars here and I think we’re going to try that again in Suzuka; it looks positive for us at the high downforce circuits,” the Australian said.
Ricciardo won the Azerbaijan race and has eight podiums overall from 15 races while the 20-year-old Verstappen has enjoyed mixed fortunes including seven races he did not finish.
No wonder Horner was happy for the Dutch youngster to return to the podium for the first time since the second season race in China in April.
“It’s great for Max, he’s endured so much bad luck whether it’s first lap incidents, whether it’s four DNFs with engine units etc,” Horner said on Sunday.
“But he’s never let his head drop too much and he turned 20 yesterday [Saturday], and the best way to start this new decade for him was with a Grand Prix victory here.” – dpa