After a string of difficult street races, Max Verstappen’s Formula One competitors are expecting Red Bull to be back to their best at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
As the Formula 1 circus heads to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix, competitors are bracing for Red Bull Racing to reclaim their dominance on a traditional racing circuit. Despite early-season supremacy, Red Bull faced unexpected challenges recently, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes each snatching victories since May.
The conventional layout of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is expected to play to Red Bull’s strengths after struggling with bumps and kerbs in previous races. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri acknowledges his team’s potential to compete but anticipates Red Bull’s resurgence. “I think we can still be confident, definitely,” Piastri remarked. “Red Bull will probably be a bit stronger than they have been, but I think we’ll be in the fight.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc shares this sentiment, suggesting Red Bull’s power will be more apparent in Spain. “The strength of Red Bull will be more visible on a track like Barcelona,” Leclerc noted, hinting at a tight contest among the other teams.
Mercedes, having watched their rivals challenge Red Bull earlier this year, showcased significant improvement in Canada, with George Russell securing pole position and finishing third, and Lewis Hamilton demonstrating robust race pace. Team principal Toto Wolff sees Barcelona as a critical test of their progress. “Barcelona will provide a good test of our progress,” Wolff stated. “It has a mix of fast, medium, and low-speed corners, a long straight, and plenty of elevation change. This weekend will provide another opportunity to evaluate our progress through our recent updates.”
With Red Bull poised to leverage their strengths and rivals eager to close the gap, the Spanish Grand Prix promises an intense battle on the traditional racing circuit.
