'Tough end to the season if Red Bull can't close the gap'

Ralf Schumacher doubts whether Red Bull Racing is able to close the gap with Mercedes. According to the former Formula1 driver Mercedes now has the faster car and Red Bull still has to make the best of it.

Verstappen leads the world championship, but where the Dutchman seemed to have the better car in the early stages of the season, Mercedes have made a clear step forward since the Russian Grand Prix. Schumacher wonders if Red Bull can still recover this in the last six races.

''There could possibly be a tough end to the year for Red Bull, too, if they cannot close the small gap to Mercedes in terms of engine performance. Now it is important for Red Bull to take a step, because Mercedes is a bit faster from the car and package at the moment,'' Schumacher said at Sky Germany.

''Mercedes has become very strong in the last two races. At the moment everything speaks for Lewis, but Red Bull has certainly not given up'', concludes Michael Schumacher's brother. With six races to go anything is still possible so we will have to wait and see until the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.