F1 News
Is a Red Bull era coming? 'That will become apparent in the coming months'
- GPblog.com
Mercedes, like last year, is not having the start to the season they had hoped for, with the W14 not competitive enough at the moment to compete for wins. Red Bull Racing won the first three races, but George Russell indicates that Mercedes are trying to close the gap as soon as possible.
Last year, Mercedes suffered particularly badly from porpoising. As a result, that problem had to be remedied before the performance of the then W13 could really be improved. In 2022, the team showed they are capable of closing the gap to the top: at the end of the season, the German team scored a one-two at the Brazilian Grand Prix. This year, Mercedes' start is once again disappointing, but Russell indicates that his team is not giving up yet.
Mercedes wants to close gap
After the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Briton still said he expects Red Bull to win every race in 2023, but Russell has since taken a more positive view of the situation. "There are still 21 races to go, but Red Bull obviously has the best car for both titles, but we are trying to close the gap as soon as possible. Our goal is to win races also this season. That's part of the Mercedes DNA," Russell said in an interview with Bild.
Red Bull era?
Last year, Red Bull won 18 out of 22 races, and this year too, the Austrian team is at the top of Formula 1. The team has scored all pole positions and victories so far this season. However, Russell thinks it is too early to speak of a Red Bull era. "That will become apparent in the next few months. But I think it is too early to speak of a Red Bull era. Yes, they are currently dominant, but only since the second half of last season. For an era, you have to be at the top for a little longer than nine months."