The 2021 Formula 1 season could be the best time for Red Bull to fight for the championship. The team won the last race of the 2020 season and had the fastest car in pre-season testing.
Can Red Bull finally take on Mercedes this season? Will Max Verstappen topple Lewis Hamilton as the best driver on the grid?
Team: Red Bull
Strengthen
Red Bull’s strength lies in its aerodynamic performance. The team has produced some of the most efficient aero parts on the net since 2009. The high-rake concept favored by Adrian Newey has paid off on slow routes like Monaco and Singapore.
The team also has one of the best rider lineups in the sport. Max Verstappen is undoubtedly the leader of the team and Sergio Perez is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid.
The team’s Honda engine has also improved in recent years. The Japanese manufacturer’s engine was referred to in 2015 by Fernando Alonso as the “GP2 engine”. Since then, Honda has taken significant strides to deliver a race-winning engine.
weaknesses
Despite Honda’s recent improvements, Red Bull’s biggest weakness since 2014 has been the powerplant. Reliability concerns plagued the team even after switching from Renault to Honda in 2019. The unit is also not efficient compared to the Mercedes engine.
Unfortunately for Red Bull, Honda decided to cease Formula 1 operations from 2022. This means the unit is designed in-house at its Milton Keynes facility. Red Bull lacks the necessary research and knowledge to build or improve a competitive Formula 1 engine.
driver
Max Verstappen
This could be Max Verstappen’s opportunity to fight for the title. Photo: Hamad Mohammed / Getty Images.
Since his debut in the sport, Max Verstappen has never had a better opportunity to fight for the championship. The young Dutchman is a productive driver. Experts consider him the fastest driver on the grid and his recent maturity has allowed him to consistently score points for the team.
If the results of the preseason test are to be taken seriously, this could be the year Max Verstappen finishes the cycle of Mercedes domination.
Sergio Perez
I enjoy guessing a pecking order after testing. This time it is very difficult to change the track conditions so much between day and night, but here we go:
Red Bull
Mercedes
AlphaTauri / Mclaren
alpine
Ferrari / Aston Martin
Alfa Romeo
Williams
Haas
Just a guess! 
– Karun Chandhok (@karunchandhok) March 15, 2021
Max Verstappen described the pre-season test as the best he has had since joining Red Bull. A look at the timesheets explains why.
Red Bull was the most impressive car during pre-season testing. The car had no reliability issues. The RB16B also looked stable and fast. Experts believe Red Bull has the fastest, most reliable car on the grid. With Mercedes struggling with both reliability and handling problems, Red Bull could finally have the chance to fight for the championship.
Also read: Five things we learned from pre-season Formula 1 tests
2021 Formula 1 season forecasts
The biggest challenge Red Bull has faced in recent seasons has been the team’s inability to hit the ground beneath their feet. Red Bull often starts much more slowly than Mercedes and is slowly building itself into the season. Mercedes usually wins the championship before Red Bull can consistently fight for victories.
This time, however, Red Bull is starting the season with a faster car. Her ability to develop the car during the season is unmatched and this could lead her to her first championship since 2013.
Also read: Team preview Formula 1 2021: Mercedes
Published 16 Mar 2021, 17:30 CET
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