November 28th 2024.
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen, the dynamic duo behind Red Bull Racing, are facing some tough competition in the ongoing battle for the Formula One teams' championship. While the drivers' title has already been decided, the fight for the constructors' crown is still wide open. With just two races left in the season, only 53 points separate the top three teams – McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull – with a total of 88 points up for grabs.
Unfortunately for Red Bull, who have dominated the championship for the past two years, this season has been less than stellar. They will need a stroke of luck to have any chance of securing a third consecutive title. On the other hand, Ferrari could potentially claim their first championship since 2008 if they outscore McLaren in the remaining races. And it's been even longer for McLaren, who last won the constructors' title 26 years ago – when the movie Titanic was still in theaters.
But despite the challenges, McLaren has made an impressive comeback this year, thanks to the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella. Since Lando Norris' victory in Miami in May, they have been the team to beat. And even if Ferrari doesn't catch up, they have laid a solid foundation for the arrival of superstar Lewis Hamilton in 2025. Meanwhile, Red Bull's technical director, Pierre Wache, has expressed doubts about the team's chances for the upcoming season, citing the impressive performance of their competitors.
For Max Verstappen, the star driver of Red Bull, the season started off strong but took a turn for the worse by June. He has even gone as far as saying that he would have been champion by now if he were driving for McLaren or Ferrari – a statement that holds some truth. The team has also faced some internal challenges, with a number of senior engineers leaving and putting pressure on Wache to prove himself without the guidance of legendary designer Adrian Newey.
One of the main reasons for Red Bull's struggles is that they heavily rely on Verstappen's performance, with his teammate Sergio Perez contributing significantly fewer points. In fact, Verstappen has scored 403 points compared to Perez's 152 – a larger gap than that between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. And while there are talks of replacing Perez, there is no clear contender who could do a better job. Even promising young driver Franco Colapinto, who has caught the attention of many, has only scored five points in his short F1 career.
Other potential replacements, such as Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, have not fared well in the past when promoted from Red Bull's junior team. Valtteri Bottas, who will be leaving Mercedes at the end of the season, could also be an option, but he has expressed doubts about being considered due to some negative feelings towards him within the Red Bull team. And many have questioned why they didn't sign Carlos Sainz Jr when they had the chance – perhaps Verstappen had a say in that decision?
Aside from the teams' championship, there is also a lot at stake for individual drivers, particularly Lewis Hamilton. After an impressive second place finish in Las Vegas from 10th on the grid, he will be looking to continue his momentum and outshine his teammate in Qatar before making his final appearance for Mercedes. And speaking of new additions to the grid, it has been confirmed that Cadillac will be joining F1 in 2026 as a full works team, with the support of F1 bosses and legendary former champion Mario Andretti as a director.
However, not all is well within the FIA – the governing body of F1. President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has made some surprising changes, including axing the race director and promoting someone else to the position. And just when it seemed like things were settled, the new race director has also stepped down, along with the most senior steward. The reasons for these departures are still unknown, but it seems that there may have been some personal issues at play.
Overall, the battle for the teams' championship is far from over, and we can expect to see some intense racing in the remaining races. And with the addition of Cadillac to the grid, things are only going to get more exciting. But as we witness these thrilling races, let's not forget to appreciate the legacy of Hamilton at Mercedes and the amazing performances we've seen throughout the season.
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