At the beginning of the 2024 season, Red Bull’s victory path looked clear. The Austrian outfit drove seamlessly on the smooth surfaces, as the competitors were way behind. However, a blockade of ‘internal politics’ hit the Red Bull victory ride, derailing its campaign. Moreover, with Ferrari and McLaren stepping up, it was no longer one-way traffic. The three-way fight began, and both Ferrari and McLaren started giving a tough fight. With Carlos Sainz winning the Australian GP and Landor Norris Miami GP, Red Bull was on the back foot.
Adding to their woes, the Mercedes team has picked up the pace and is back in the points hunt. Thus, the battle is now four-way, with all the teams capable of winning. Surprisingly, RBR’s senior advisor feels Mercedes’ resurgence is positive news for Red Bull.
Helmut Marko Feels Mercedes’ Performance ‘Works Out Well’ For Red Bull
The Red Bull team has extended its lead after an empathic victory in Barcelona. The team is leading by almost 60 points, but Ferrari and McLaren are chasing the leaders. The McLaren team has recently been phenomenal, posing a challenge to the energy drink-based outfit. Although the team is 33 points behind Ferrari, the Prancing Horses have struggled in the recent races. Thus, Sergio Perez’s slump and Max Verstappen’s being the lone fighter provide an outside chance to the rivals. However, Mercedes, one of Red Bull’s biggest rivals, could ironically help the team. With its resurgence, the team consistently scores points, finishing ahead of the Ferrari drivers. Thus, the Silver Arrows are stealing crucial points in a critical stage of the championship. This would further help the Red Bull team to extend its lead, as Mercedes is practically not in the championship contention.
During an interaction with OE24, Helmut Marko shared his insights on the current state of the Mercedes team and its impact on the championship race. Marko acknowledged that Mercedes’ return to form benefits their calculations regarding the world championship. He emphasized that even a driver as skilled as Max Verstappen cannot maintain peak performance throughout the season. Highlighting Verstappen’s extraordinary overtaking maneuver that secured his lead, Marko pointed out that Max’s victories are due to his confidence rather than the car’s superiority.
On the other hand, Marko also commented on Sergio Perez’s performance, noting that although Perez started much further back, the competition has become so close that any weaknesses can be costly. This underscores the importance of consistency and resilience in a tightly contested championship battle.
Verstappen To Drive RB16 In His Goodwood Festival Debut
The three-time world champion would make his much-awaited debut in the Goodwood Festival Of Speed. He will mark his presence at the event held between 12th and 14th July. In the historic moment, the Dutchman would drive an iconic RB16 on Goodwood Hill.
RB16 is the same car that helped Max Verstappen clinch his debut title by defeating Lewis Hamilton. The Red Bull team will be joined by several former racers, including David Coulthard, Christian Klien, and Mark Webber.