It's been eleven weeks since Bahrain Grand Prix. Just after the race that saw Verstappen grab his first victory of the season, George Russell launched into an apparently improbable prediction, but not impossible:“I'm willing to bet that Red Bull will win them all" recited the number 63; but is the one proposed by the young man from King's Lynn really a realistic scenario?
Never anyone before
There is no domain that holds. Until now, since the Formula 1 World Championship exists, no manufacturer has ever managed to strike at every single race weekend. What is certain is that there are those who came close, like Mercedes. The stable of the starin fact, in 2016 it brought home more than 90% of the seasonal stages, for a total of 19 out of 21 wins. The streak of victories was made uneven by the drivers themselves in Spain, where they knocked each other out in one of the most controversial episodes of modern F1; and in Malaysia, where Rosberg spun after a contact in the first corner, and Hamilton was fatally betrayed by the power unit. In short, pitfalls are around the corner even when you have the best car by far, but the perpetually denied hierarchy of the Verstappen-Perez duo are good insurance when it comes to body to body.
On the side of Red Bull
The only certainty in the hierarchies of this world championship is the superiority of the RB19. Just behind it blooms chaos. Until now no one has managed to worry the two of the winged bull, so much so that partial after five races recites Verstappen 3, and Perez 2. The role of second force does not seem to find a permanent master. On the one hand there is Ferrari, in the flask with a single-seater that seems indomitable, suitable for a few types of layout, asphalt, conditions. On the other hand there is the equally fluctuating Mercedes, also a bearer of serious symptoms like Ferrari, but for longer. And finally there is Aston Martin, the most solid of the three, but prevented by the manifest inferiority in the presence of the RB19 to go beyond the third position, barring surprises.
The situation in Milton Keynes is nothing short of idyllic, even considering the rate at which the technicians manage to churn out updates, most of the time effective, without appearing to be affected by any penalty imposed in the past year.
The calendar worm
Red Bull's only real opponent, till today, looks like math. Because if on the one hand having the best car makes you sleep peacefully, on the other have a calendar of 22 races (one less than the original 23 after the cancellation of Imola) with 6 sprint weekends, some doubts arise. These are probably the last weekends in which the nerves of Horner's team will be most severely tested. However, on six occasions qualifying will be reached with just one free practice session. If, moreover, the track and conditions make a comeback difficult, it would not be unthinkable to have a new winner.
A first important test will already take place this weekend. The Principality is the atypical track par excellence, and missing pole for whatever reason would almost be a condemnation for Sunday. Pole which, as seen, is not always in the hands of Red Bull - see Azerbaijan –. In short, the Red Bull collective, despite being in an enviable position, cannot allow itself the luxury of resting on its laurels if it wants to grab everything.
Red Bull - an almost perfect car
Going beyond the monstrous performance, Red Bull has also proven to be a step forward in reliability. Mercedes and Ferrari have served retirements due to engine problems, Red Bull has not. While the Milton Keynes power unit is an engineering marvel capable of delivering maximum power without risking breakage, on the other hand, the RB19 is not exempt from the risk of mechanical withdrawal.
In fact, a problem the creature of Newey it might have it, and it's in the transmission. In almost every race weekend, a Verstappen radio team is proposed by the director who complains of problems in the gear changes. A problem that hasn't compromised any Dutch Sunday until now, but a Saturday yes. TO Jeddah in fact, Verstappen had to give up the fight for pole when in Q2 his RB19's transmission said goodbye to him. There is a problem, and perhaps Red Bull is even able to mitigate it by being able to afford to lap more "calmly" given the gap with those behind. It remains to be seen if it will be a determining factor in the undertaking that no one has ever, up until now, been able to accomplish.
