How strong are the three pursuers really?: Omnivorous Red Bull for the 100th victory

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The bulls are almost unstoppable in 2023. Only McLaren (1988) and Mercedes (2019) have won the first seven races. Barcelona was already the eighth win in a row over the seasons. In 1988 (with Prost and Senna) McLaren even achieved eleven victories in a row.

Ferrari way ahead with 242

Red Bull-Honda is chasing the 100th win in the energy drink giant’s success story since 2005. Ferrari still leads with 242 successes, McLaren (183), Mercedes (125) and Williams (114).

No other team has collected a first lap in the last three races. That was the last time in 2020 at three circuits that are no longer on the calendar: Mugello, Sochi and Nürburgring.

Mercedes: No statements!

With 287 points, Red Bull has one point more than its closest “followers” Mercedes (152) and Aston Martin-Mercedes (134) combined. Threatens this duo’s greatest danger.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, always ready for clear words: “We have to stay on top after the two podiums in Spain. We have caught up, but the gap with Red Bull is still very big.”

Wolff: “We spoke to Max”

Wolff brings up an old story from the current Verstappen show: “Of course we would like to have Max at Mercedes. But when we met a few times ten years ago, it just didn’t make sense. We already had a strong link with Hamilton and Rosberg. So Verstappen went to Toro Rosso in 2016. We know the rest. And by the end of 2028, the Dutch will no longer be an issue.”

Verstappen like Senna?

And on Sunday, with his 41st GP win, Verstappen may even overtake GP legend Ayrton Senna (deceased in 1994), at least in terms of results. Then only Hamilton (103), Schumi (91), Vettel (53) and Prost (51) were more successful.

Senna also drove 163 Formula 1 races and Verstappen will be at the start for the 171st time on Sunday.

The “Greens” under pressure

At Aston Martin, owner Lawrence Stroll (61) and his son Lance (24) put pressure on for the home race. Yes, the Barcelona result (6th Stroll, 7th Alonso) was even called a crash! Well, in terms of points (14) this was the worst result for the «Greens».

Pride still comes before the fall. No problem at Ferrari at the moment. Maranello is still in the buzz of victory after winning at Le Mans. After 50 years of abstinence, the sports car division showed the big players how to beat the Japanese (Toyota). But Formula 1 and Honda are still a few classes higher.

The four little ones dream

The four little ones will continue to celebrate every point like Christmas in the future. Only with Haas-Ferrari (eight points like Alfa-Sauber) you keep dreaming. “We can still overtake McLaren in 7th place,” Magnussen said before his 150th world championship run. The once proud British have stumbled into the season with 17 points.

The people of Hinwil were also optimistic for the 70 rounds of the 1976 Olympic rowing pool. The ten championship points from a year ago would be a sensation this time. The C43 is simply too slow for that. Alpha Tauri-Honda is next, Williams-Mercedes is not.

Source : Blick