Vijay Mallya predicts podiums and wins for Racing Point in 2020
F1 News
Former Force India owner Vijay Mallya believes that Racing Point will be right up there fighting for podiums and wins, after a strong start to winter testing.
The Indian businessman, who owned the team when it was in its former guise as Force India, tweeted out on Sunday morning praising Racing Point for their strong start to the 2020 winter test.
"Delighted to see @ Racing Point make the best ever start to a Formula One season at the Barcelona Test," Mallya tweeted. "Cars are real quick and I think podiums are for real this year and with a bit of luck race wins as well. Good luck!"
The new RP-20 has divided opinion due to the similarities it possesses compared to Mercedes' 2019 challenger, the W10, after the Lawrence Stroll owned outfit turned up to the first day of winter testing on Wednesday with a completely different car to the one they unveiled in Austria on Monday 17.
Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll will be looking to spearhead the new car to the front of the midfield after finishing the 2019 season in 7th place in the Constructors Championship.
However, after the conclusion of the first test on Friday, the Racing Point car looks closer to the big three teams, with people suggesting that they may even be ahead of Ferrari ahead of the start of the second test on Wednesday.
All eyes will be on the RP-20 ahead of the second and final test, before they can show their true pace at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday 15 March.