Formula One's Not-So-Thrilling Title Battle Accorded to Red Bull's Superiority
Former Mercedes Head of Motorsport Norbert Haug isn't backing Red Bull's rivals, painting a grim picture ahead of the Formula One season finale.
In terms of competition dominance, neither superiority nor inferiority has been witnessed in such a clear fashion since 1950, according to Haug. Voice of caution, this unwavering supremacy won't maintain the thrill necessary for a lasting spectacular globe-trotting championship.
Red Bull's Dutch sensation Max Verstappen has already been crowned the Champion once more; meanwhile, Verstappen's Mexican teammate, Sergio Pérez, is comfortably in second place before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Red Bull has already secured the Constructors' World Championship title as well.
Rewarding points reveal Verstappen's prevalence: Mercedes sits in second place with 392 points, yet still trailing behind Red Bull by four points. However, no amount of maximized points from Verstappen's race in Abu Dhabi would enable him to catch Mercedes.
"Never given anyone a shot"
Max Verstappen has already claimed victory in 18 of 21 races. As a testament to Verstappen and Red Bull Racing's excellence, it's evident that the competition fell short in 2023, according to Haug.
Verstappen has undoubtedly upped his game this season, former driver Timo Glock pointed out to dpa. "Verstappen stood head and shoulders above the rest, controlling every situation on every lap, outpacing competitors in each practice session. He made no mistakes and continued his impressive improvement."
Elaborating on Verstappen's outstanding show, Glock acknowledged that while Red Bull excelled, its opponents – particularly Mercedes and Ferrari – didn't meet the mark.
There's a Silver Lining
Gaug's criticism, while severe, doesn't go unchallenged. Mercedes has continued to push Red Bull in the Constructors' World Championship before the Abu Dhabi GP, trailing by a mere four points.
The blend of superior Red Bull Racing and fierce competition from Mercedes unites to keep fans' anticipation spiked. After all, there are still championship titles to be claimed, and Red Bull's rivals are not backing down.
