Doornbos on Red Bull: 'You also need a team that doesn't make mistakes'
General
- GPblog.com
Robert Doornbos expects to see a good fight when the second Grand Prix of the year is held at Imola. According to the analyst of Ziggo Sport, Red Bull Racing and Mercedes are not that far apart and all the ingredients are present to make it a weekend full of spectacle.
Tension at the top
"It is not that one team is very far ahead," Doornbos analyses the proportions between Red Bull and Mercedes in Formula 1, based on one Grand Prix. The former driver points out that it can possibly differ per circuit which team comes out on top."As far as Imola is concerned, a whole new adventure starts here again, but I'm sure Red Bull will be quick here too."
In Bahrain, Verstappen had a perfect weekend until Sunday, but in the end it was Hamilton who was able to immediately grab the lead in the world championship. "To beat Mercedes you not only need the best driver and the best car, but also a team that doesn't make mistakes. Max's driving style was flawless in Bahrain, but strategically Red Bull has made some mistakes. And it will soon be important for Sergio Pérez to find the connection," he explains.
Developing RB16B and W12
Doornbos goes on to say that Mercedes have worked hard in recent weeks to close the gap on their Austrian rival. At the same time it will not be the only part of the W12 where progress can be found. On the other hand Red Bull is not sitting still and will try to gain a few more tenths.
It looks like Mercedes and Red Bull will be facing a major dilemma in a few months time. When do the two top teams stop developing the 2021 car? At some point the focus will have to shift to 2022, when the new rules for the premier class of motor sport will enter into force. However, stopping the development of the current car too soon could mean losing the world title.