Red Bull Racing, the defending constructors champions, officially lost the lead to McLaren after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Max Verstappen had another mid-field finish at P5, whereas Sergio Perez crashed with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz during the final laps, leading to zero points contribution.
Meanwhile, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the race, which enabled his team to surpass Red Bull in the constructor’s race. Needless to say, the sudden dip in performance in the drink-based outfit mid-season has startled the fans and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff alike. Wolff reflected on the change of dynamics and issued a word of caution.
Toto Wolff Not Yet Ready To Write Red Bull Off Despite McLaren’s Gain
Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, has expressed surprise at Red Bull Racing’s recent dip in form but remains cautious about underestimating their capabilities. The drink-based out began the season on a high as fans expected them to sweep the season with unreal dominance. However, the tables turned when McLaren achieved remarkable performance gains with just a couple of upgrades. Wolff also expressed amazement at Papaya’s improvement. He expected them to gain a few tenths, but McLaren ended up being a second faster. On top of that, Red Bull’s performance dip came as a blessing in disguise. “The car is in a sweet spot, and they’ve taken the right decisions since then, and today it’s the quickest car,” Wolff said.
Toto Wolff also said that Max Verstappen’s championship run has collapsed. He is under the pump with steep competition from McLaren and Ferrari, which has made him vulnerable. However, regardless of the dip, Wolff refuses to write them off. The sudden decline in Red Bull’s results has sparked speculation, particularly around their car development and potential issues with balance or tyre management. However, Wolff believes that Red Bull’s depth in engineering and strategy, combined with the talent of their drivers, will make it difficult for any team to surpass them entirely. Hence, as Mercedes continues to chase Red Bull and other top contenders like Ferrari and McLaren, Wolff maintains a level-headed approach. With several races left, the championship battle remains open, and while the Bulls may not be in their peak form, Wolff remains wary of their ability to bounce back quickly.
Sergio Perez Positive Despite Unfortunate Baku Crash
Red Bull’s constructors title lead slipped out of their hands the moment Sergio Perez rammed into Carlos Sainz in the final laps of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Sainz turned left out of nowhere, which caught Perez by surprise. The duo crashed and lost deserving points. For Checo, the grief was profound as his team lost the constructors lead to McLaren.
However, regardless of the disappointment, Sergio Perez will take away a big positive from the race. He revealed that RB20 finally had the pace to win, and that was a major development breakthrough. “I think with the upgrades, we’re back in contention, and that’s something we can be happy with,” Checo said. If Perez says this is true, McLaren cannot let their guard down anytime soon.
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