Red Bull Racing is well on course to back-to-back drivers championships for the first time since the 2010-2014 era. Despite the early scare of unreliability, the Milton Keynes-based outfit is on top of the competition and comfortably leading. This is a lead Verstappen has earned with his consistency and the lack of it in his title rival Charles Leclerc.
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Despite Leclerc taking the blame for his French GP spin, one can hardly put any blame on the Monegasque. Ferrari has been their own enemy with consistent reliability issues and questionable strategic calls. The Italian team’s struggle within the paddock has made life for the Red Bull garage comparatively easy. Especially compared to the previous season in which the title rival Mercedes and Hamilton were a constant thorn in the flesh.
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In accordance, Red Bull’s Christian Horner made statements comparing the fight between Mercedes and Ferrari. He said, “We’re going head-to-head at each race and there is a genuine respect between the drivers and teams, which is good to see.”
“Certainly, today it’s been a competition that’s been about what’s happening on the track. There’s not been a lot of politics and b*****t with what’s going on off the track.”
Formula One F1 – Miami Grand Prix – Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, U.S. – May 7, 2022 Red Bull team principal Christian Horner during practice REUTERS/Brian Snyder
There is certainly less drama compared to the previous season as both Wolff and Horner were at each other’s throats throughout. Ferrari just hasn’t put up the fight they’re capable of by losing points on account of their own mistakes.
Verstappen has a 63-point advantage over Leclerc, which even he feels is bigger than it should’ve been. However, everyone is aware of the Ferrari’s incredible machinery and Horner is expecting stiff competition after the summer break.
Red Bull with a comfortable lead, still wary of Ferrari’s threat
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Red Bull is currently leading the constructors’ championship with 396 points. They have an 82-point lead over the second-best Ferrari. Despite the gap, Ferrari’s quality isn’t lost on Horner and he expects a comeback after the summer break.
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He said, “It’s been very, very close. I think we’ve grabbed our opportunities perhaps a little more in the first half of the year but I’m expecting it to be very tight in the second half.”
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The Milton Keynes-based team has definitely grabbed more opportunities than the Italian outfit. However, taking the 2021 season as a lesson, it’s not over until the last checked flag.
Watch this story: Christian Horner Speaks Up on Possible Audi-Porsche 2026 F1 Partnership – “Would Be Very Easy…”
