RED BULL’S ONLY THREAT COMES FROM WITHIN

Mercedes may be set for a step back at Spa after working its way back towards the front of the grid.

Lewis Hamilton entered the break with a five-race podium streak, while George Russell took pole in Hungary. And this is actually best for Red Bull.

Max Verstappen’s squad has produced a car that’s kind on its tyres and in contention at every race, if not leading the way; the Dutchman’s struggles with slowspeed understeer on the 2022 Pirelli tyres and the Red Bull’s remaining excess weight, especially on low fuel, means he trails Charles Leclerc 7-3 in the pole count.

Verstappen’s points gap to Leclerc is the biggest of the season so far, and well over double the 33 that was his largest margin to main rival Hamilton in 2021. So having Hamilton and Russell finish ahead of the Ferraris at any races is a bonus, as Verstappen acknowledges. “It’s good that they are competitive because then they can steal more points off Ferrari,” he said after his Hungary win. “So, I’m very happy. They’re doing very well.”

Other than the slim possibility that it’s Red Bull rather than Ferrari that is hurt more by the upcoming porpoising clampdown, the only real threat to Verstappen’s position seems to be from within. And this is that Red Bull’s planned partnership with Porsche – set to come in with the 2026 engine rule changes, with the manufacturer owning 50% of Red Bull’s F1 operation – is still yet to be formally confirmed. That represents a possible distraction given the huge ramifications it has for Red Bull’s F1 future, albeit at a team that is yet to be knocked off its stride in 2022.