In the lead-up to the Austrian GP – a home race for Red Bull – rival McLaren continues to lead both championships. After an extremely competitive start to the season, the team has built a comfortable lead over the other constructors, while drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are vying for the title. However, former champion Sebastian Vettel insists that there is no true dominance yet.
Building on the success of the MCL38, McLaren presented the MCL39 this season, a car that has already brought the team seven victories in ten Grands Prix. As a result, the Brits are heading for their first double title win since 1998, when Mika Häkkinen was still racing for McLaren. However, there are rivals who could disrupt the papaya party. Max Verstappen remains a formidable opponent, and George Russell – who won the last GP in Canada – is having a stellar season.
Former Red Bull driver and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel assures that McLaren cannot rest on its laurels yet. The German expects Red Bull to come back stronger in the second half of the season. “I think Max (Verstappen), George (Russell), and McLaren are the favorites at the moment,” Vettel said in Sport am Sonntag, the podcast of Austrian ORF. “They are all incredibly close to each other.”
Red Bull: The Dominant Force
“The season is still very long and so much can still happen,” he explained. “And when everything is so close together, a fifth place can sometimes be very good – even though it may now be considered a disaster. Ultimately, every point can be very valuable.” Should Sergio Perez miss out on the title this year, Vettel believes that this could possibly be a one-time setback. He knows better than anyone that Red Bull has the right technical know-how to counter McLaren’s absolute dominance. “Red Bull has its infrastructure and personnel very well organized,” Vettel emphasized. “But as you can see, sometimes the team structure is also important.”
“McLaren has had a very good period lately,” Vettel admitted. “How long that will last is unknown, but there is no real dominance yet. Looking at the current rules, I think Red Bull is still the dominant force. It may be a bit more difficult now, but Sergio Perez and the team somehow manage to stay not far from the top.” One thing Vettel is certain of: “We still don’t know how this year will end.”
