The season began with Red Bull firmly in control, seemingly on track for another easy victory. However, rising competition has disrupted their dominance. Formula One has turned into a four-way contest, with all the leading teams vying for the Constructors’ Championship.
While Red Bull remains in the lead, McLaren is quickly closing in, with both of its drivers performing at their best. Additionally, Mercedes has re-entered the fray with bold upgrades, and Ferrari is not far off the pace. Moreover, the RBR squad will be without a critical member in the upcoming Zandvoort race. Sergio Perez will have a new race engineer. From now on, every race is crucial for the world title. Therefore, this could be a major blow for the team.
Red Bull Engineer To Take Leave, Replacement Announced
The Formula One world is an ever-changing landscape. Further, with the current scenarios, the competition appears intense. Thus, teams can’t take a back seat, as every race is essential. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Serio Perez will miss his F1 engineer, Hugh Bird, for the upcoming GP. Bird will be taking paternity leave, and the RBR squad has announced his replacement for the period. Richard Wood, a performance engineer, will be Checo’s new race engineer for the upcoming weekend races. He has been an integral part of the energy drink-based squad for more than a decade. Meanwhile, Richard Cooke, a simulator engineer, will be taking up Wood’s responsibilities. He was also in Verstappen’s garage team in 2023, having plenty of experience working in real-time situations.
According to some sources, Wood and Cooke will be the race in charge for at least three races. Hugh Bird will possibly join the team after the Singapore GP. However, these changes are due to Bird’s paternity leave and are not a strategy to overcome McLaren’s hurdle. However, the RBR team has clarified that it wants to focus on improving Checo’s performance. Thus, the squad will implement several technical and tactical changes to help its driver. Moreover, the Mexican racer has a phenomenal track record in upcoming races like Azerbaijan and Singapore.
The Constructors’ Cup Hopes Hinges On Sergio Perez
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, shared his thoughts on the upcoming ten rounds of the F1 season, recognizing the challenges ahead. He predicts a close contest for the Constructors’ Championship, with Sergio Perez’s performance likely being the deciding factor. Brown suggests that if Perez can reach his full potential, it will create a tough battle for all the teams involved. However, if Perez’s inconsistent form continues, Brown is confident that McLaren stands a strong chance, bolstered by the consistent performances of their two leading drivers.