Bahrain, Bahrain – March 2: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner and the Oracle Red Bull Racing team pose for a photo as they celebrate after the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 2, 2024, in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202403020640 // Editorial use only //
Another championship checkered flag in Albert Park would see the Dutch driver equal last year’s sequence of ten consecutive victories, from the Miami Grand Prix to the Italian Grand Prix, leaving competitors even further behind.
Horner was cleared of alleged misconduct regarding a Red Bull employee, but the unidentified woman appealed after her complaint was rejected. This ensures that the controversy will continue in Melbourne.
Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of the Formula 1 champions based in Austria, has made no comment on the reports. However, they previously stated that the accuser had the right to appeal.
Although the ongoing saga has not visibly affected Verstappen’s performance, his father, Jos Verstappen, expressed concerns after the Bahrain Grand Prix that the team could face internal conflicts if Horner remains in charge.
These comments raised fears that Verstappen may consider other options from 2025 onwards. However, the three-time world champion, who is under contract until 2028, stated that extraordinary circumstances would have to occur for him to make such a decision.
This is a valid question. Unless bad luck strikes, no one will likely be able to surpass Verstappen. He is already 15 points ahead of his teammate Perez and 23 points ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. This raises the possibility that both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships will mirror last year’s predictable outcome.
With Red Bull’s RB20 outperforming rival cars, the focus now shifts to which team will emerge as the strongest contender behind them.
Leclerc finished over 18 seconds behind Verstappen in Jeddah, and Ferrari will be eager to close the gap in Albert Park. It was at this circuit last year that the Red Bull driver triumphed in a chaotic race full of accidents and three red flags.
Ferrari received a boost in Saudi Arabia with the impressive performance of British reserve driver Oliver Bearman, who finished seventh as a last-minute substitute for Carlos Sainz. However, Sainz is expected to return to the car seat this week after undergoing appendicitis surgery.
Mercedes, which has been rumored as a possible destination for Verstappen in 2025 to replace Lewis Hamilton, who is heading to Ferrari, has not yet shown a level of performance that would impress the Dutch champion.
Hamilton finished ninth in Jeddah and expressed frustration with three years of stagnation in the team’s car, emphasizing the need for significant changes.
The head of the Mercedes team, Toto Wolff, expressed his disappointment with the performance of the W15 car, stating that it did not meet expectations. However, he remained optimistic about its potential, recognizing the competitiveness of the chasing pack in Formula 1. Wolff emphasized the importance of maximizing the car’s potential every race weekend and looked forward to the upcoming Australian Grand Prix as an opportunity to showcase its capabilities.
Meanwhile, Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo faces additional pressure as he prepares to compete at his home circuit for the first time since 2022. This year, he will be driving for the Red Bull junior team under a new brand. Ricciardo’s 16th place in Jeddah, just behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, prompted Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko to call for an improvement in his performance.
However, Ricciardo’s young compatriot, Oscar Piastri, may steal the spotlight from him in front of the home crowd. Piastri, racing for McLaren, impressed with a fourth-place finish in Saudi Arabia.
The Australian Grand Prix, the third round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, will take place at Albert Park in Melbourne. The race weekend will kick off on Friday with the first and second free practice sessions (FP1 and FP2). (Reporting by Ian Ransom)
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