(Motorsport) Red Bull Racing are the undisputed frontrunners on the Formula 1 grid at the moment with both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finishing in the first two positions at the two Grand Prix’s of the season so far. Verstappen finished first in Bahrain while Perez finished first in Saudi Arabia but despite that, the reigning World Champion is 1 point ahead of his teammate. Both drivers appear to be unhappy with Verstappen saying he was “not happy” to finish second in Jeddah while Perez was frustrated at missing out on the bonus point for the fastest lap to his teammate. 

While both drivers competing for the championship is an ideal scenario for team principal Christian Horner and the staff at Red Bull Racing, especially for the Constructors Championship, it’s not likely that the relationship between the two drivers is very smooth at the moment. Sergio Perez is in the final year of his contract and is possibly being more accommodating than necessary in order to seal the extension, even if it’s at his own expense. It appears that Red Bull Racing were prioritizing Verstappen, even though Sergio Perez was winning the race, asking the Mexican to target lap times slower than the Dutchman so that Verstappen could get the bonus point and lead the Championship. 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said that he has no problem in Red Bull dominating Formula 1 by saying “We have had those years where we were as strong, but it is a meritocracy. We shouldn’t talk it down because I remember hearing voices like that between 2014 and 2020. What makes the sport so special is that you need to work hard to win, and you deserve it, and that is matter of fact. Even if it is not great for the show that the same guys win all the time, it is because they have done a good job and we haven’t. 

“We all hope for good entertainment and it is our duty to catch up and fight these guys. We will do everything in our power to fight back and we will look at areas of weakness that they may have. Entertainment follows sport and that [Red Bull’s dominance] is maybe not good for the commercial side but it is what makes Formula 1 so special. Lewis is a fighter and so are we. If the fight is on, you stay and you fight and you don’t throw the towel in. That is how we all are in the team so that is why I have no reason to believe he is going to walk away from it.” 

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