The Red Bull team, amid all the internal clutter, is still leading the pack. Despite a recent dip, the Austrian outfit is poised to lift its fourth consecutive world title. However, as the car development intensifies, the team seems vulnerable. Moreover, all the rival team bosses are firing verbal shots at the team.
Meanwhile, rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes are trying to catch up with the reigning world champions. Red Bull’s technical team has been at the pinnacle of automobile engineering. With names like Adrian Newey and Pierre Wache, the F1 prospect looks head and shoulders above the rest. However, the team might have hit the development ceiling as the chasing packs come closer.
Ferrari, Mercedes Replicate Red Bull As The ‘Car Development’ War Intensifies
Since introducing ground effect regulations in 2022, Red Bull has innovated some of the fastest F1 cars. The RB19 in 2023 was running ferociously on the tracks as the technical team made a flawless power machine. Consequently, none of the teams on the grid was able to challenge RBR’s supremacy. Thus, Max Verstappen won his third consecutive world title in a straightforward season. However, the current season has been different. While the Red Bull’s technical potential touched the ceiling, other teams have decoded its strategy. Thus, Ferrari and Mercedes are now set to use RBR’s ‘Suspension Trick.’ The suspension is crucial because of the ground effect regulations, which increase the downforce. The Prancing Horses claim they have done a better job than the original suspensions. Ferrari has been on the top gear throughout the season. The team has won two GPs during the first leg of the season.
On the other hand, Mercedes, which has had a terrible run since ground effect implementation, has also enabled the suspensions. The team’s F1 prospect, W15, is grappling with a plethora of technical issues. Whether aerodynamic or downforce, the car slags in every aspect. The team is miles behind the top three contenders, as they haven’t won a race since 2022. Therefore, the team would expect a positive outcome after this suspension trick. Moreover, the Mercedes driver, George Russell, sounds confident ahead of the upcoming weekends. The Briton feels his team would be among the front spot after the Silverstone.
Esteban Ocon’s Sudden Alpine Departure
The silly season of 2024 continues to increase chaos. The Alpine F1 team has informed Esteban Ocon that his contract won’t be extended. Thus, the Frenchman will not have a seat for the upcoming season.
The driver had a brutal collision with his teammate Pierre Gasly, ending Alpine’s contention for the Monaco GP. The crash, combined with his recent performance, could be the reason for Alpine’s decision.