In Max Verstappen and Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton has a title challenger who has both the car and the speed to match - and even beat - him.
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Max Verstappen winning the French GP saw Red Bull Racing notch up a notable achievement. This was the the first time in the V6 turbo-hybrid engine era of Formula 1 that the team won three straight races. The only other team to do it was Ferrari in 2019 – although that turned out to be more of a flash in the pan than a sign of significant progress. Red Bull, on the other hand, look primed to not repeat the mistakes made by the Scuderia. Indeed, as the strategy deployed in France proved, they are willing to learn from their mistakes. As a result, this is arguably the first world title battle since maybe 2017 and 2018 that has not featured the two Mercedes cars slugging it out among themselves.
Lewis Hamilton, at long last, has a title challenger who has both the car and the speed to match – and even beat – him. The question now, perhaps, is how will they respond?
Especially at a time when all is clearly not well in the Silver Arrows camp.
Throughout the 2021 season so far, there have been rumours about Valtteri Bottas’ seat at Mercedes. Ever since Mercedes junior driver George Russell thoroughly outpaced him at the Sakhir GP last year, the writing has been on the wall for the Finn. At least that’s what most would have you believe.
The truth is that there is still no clarity as to whether the team will proceed with their current driver line-up. However, team principal Toto Wolff has publicly said he wants to extend Hamilton’s deal soon.
Quite suspiciously, there was nothing of the sort said about Bottas’ deal.
To make things even murkier, Bottas then went on to say he was ‘open-minded‘ about his future. More poignantly, perhaps, he pointed out that his negotiations over next season haven’t yet begun.
Whether this contract uncertainty is causing such levels of friction remains debatable, but it can’t be helping anyone. And the tension boiled over during the French GP itself.
Verstappen, after pitting a second time for fresh tyres, easily overtook Bottas and then Hamilton. Yet it was the Finn’s reaction on team radio that had more than a few people talking.
“Why the f**k does no one listen to me when I say it’s going to be a two-stopper?!” F***ing hell,” was his short and not so sweet message.
Bottas said afterwards that he didn’t think he crossed the line with his message. But it’s evident that he is feeling the pressure of his own run to the title being dangerously close to over.
Of course, it doesn’t help matters when the opposition are running smoothly on all cylinders…
After losing spectacularly in the Portguese GP and being outmaneuvered at the Spanish GP, Red Bull were on the ropes. Yet the races at Monaco and Azerbaijan saw them pick up big wins.
Yes, the Monaco race was half-won when Verstappen started on pole thanks to Charles Leclerc’s gearbox issues. And yes, things could have been different at Baku had Hamilton remembered to brake earlier in the first corner.
But the team followed up two big wins at street circuits with another win where many expected Mercedes to be competitive again. And they were – but they were outsmarted by Red Bull.
Verstappen has been on it since the beginning of the season, but crucially for the team, Sergio Perez is now looking comfortable in the car too.
The Mexican’s early struggles seem a thing of the past now. His win at Baku was followed up by another podium finish and he was quick all through the French GP weekend.
And then to make matters worse, the next two races take place in Red Bull territory…
It is worth noting, however, that historically Mercedes have done well at Austria. Since the race was revived in 2014, Mercedes have won six of the 8 races held there.
Last year’s double header – the Austrian GP and the Styrian GP – saw Bottas and Hamilton win a race each at the circuit. This year too we are set for a double header at Austria, thanks to the Turkish GP being called off.
However, it’s also worth noting that Mercedes are yet to face a Max Verstappen and Red Bull on this level. To make things harder, fans will be in attendance – and all will be cheering on Red Bull.
It is, of course, premature to suggest that the Mercedes dominance is coming to an end. Their car is still a quick one and they have the know-how of winning seven straight world championships.
They also have a driver who’s won seven world driver’s championships. But one suspects that both the team and Hamilton will need a quick turnaround if they are to get title #8.
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