Dominant. This and other terms fall short when it comes to Red Bull. The team has taken the baton to lead Formula 1. They are being invincible this season, for the moment they have achieved full victories in the first eight rounds. However, that of Canada be designated as a special date.
Max Verstappen has given the team its 100th victory. The Gilles Villeneuve circuit was the scene of a special race, but one that did not demand too much from the driver. He started from the pole and in that same position he stayed during the 70 laps that the session lasted. A simple victory, the result of Verstappen’s abilities, but also of the good performance that the RB19 is showing.
They are superior to the rest, but it is nothing new for them. With those hundred victories, and a total of 246 podiums, they have achieved six drivers’ and five constructors’ world championships. All this in just fourteen years old Of course, with constant evolution, changes in their seats, different rivals and new regulations.
The storm of success
The first time they climbed to the top of the podium was on the other side of the world: in the 2009 Chinese GP. They had been competing in the Great Circus for four seasons, however, his personal accountant accumulated only three podiums with three third places. That same year the team had decided climb Sebastian Vettel from Toro Rossoa decision that was the prelude to the beginning of his first reign.
Weather conditions in Shanghai forced to start the race with a safety car that was withdrawn later. The scenario was similar to the one experienced in Monza in 2008, when Vettel achieved his first victory. The pilot, who started from pole position (also the first for the team), knew how to take advantage of the situation to repeat his success. It was a slap in the face for their rivals, although it seemed that it would only be a mirage.
That first place was accompanied by another six in that same season. A good starting point for what would begin a year later. In 2010, the World Cup was especially tightso much so that everything was decided in the last race, in Abu Dhabi. For the first time in history, up to four pilots arrived with a chance to win the title.
with only nine victories that season, Red Bull was crowned first time champion. A year later the number of victories amounted to 12 and with that they revalidated the title. In 2012 they were 7 times that a rider from the team climbed to the top of the podium to end up getting a new world cup. The time they achieved the most victories in that first reign of dominance was in 2013 with a total of 13 first places. In those four years they won 53.25% of the races that were disputed
From that stage it is worth noting the Vettel’s performance in 2011 that was similar to what is being seen this year with Verstappen. The pilot did not get off the podium until the tenth race. By then he accumulated six wins and three second places. Verstappen leads for now seven wins and a second position. this being the best start ever in Formula 1.
“We thought that Vettel was the best, but then Verstappen appeared”
Vettel left a huge gap in the team at the time with his departure The four-time champion had allowed the team to dominate Formula 1 for four years. To achieve that again was becoming a difficult task. However, with the Dutch they found reasons to continue looking for how to build a powerful car. “We thought that Vettel was the best, but then Verstappen appeared,” said Helmut Marko a few days ago on the German channel Sport1.
The team’s adviser highlights the Verstappen’s natural talent and his ability to go to the limit from the moment you get into any car. “He can go full speed right away. That’s the incredible natural talent he has and the raw speed. He has fantastic control of the vehicle, especially when going to the limit.“, he stressed. In this sense, It does not detract from how hard-working and meticulous the German was, who for him had “great top speed”but even in that respect he considers Max to be “one step ahead”.
These two pilots have been the The only ones capable of taking the team to the top. However, not only they have helped achieve the figure of 100 victories. Mark Webber, Vettel’s partner during the four world championships won, added nine wins in the seven years he was at Red Bull. Daniel Ricciardowho was part of the team in five seasons accompanying the two champions, climbed to the top of the podium seven times. The last one to complete the hundred achievements is Czech Prez. The Mexican, Max’s current partner, adds top five.
The battle that returned them command
The resurgence of the team occurred in the same place where its success began: Abu Dhabi. The 2021 season offered a constant fight between Verstappen and Hamilton. halfway through the championship It seemed that the Red Bull man was taking advantage, however, the Briton did not take long to hit the table. The world championship was decided again in the last race, as happened in 2010.
Everything was decided in the last lapafter a controversial safety car. That day Max was crowned world champion, putting a full stop (for the moment) to the seven-year reign held by Mercedes. Red Bull returned to lead the Great Circus. Far from shaking their pulse, last year, they built a much more powerful car taking advantage of the regulation change. That variation did not benefit their rivals from the previous season. Mercedes did not plant her new design well and stayed to one side.
They revalidated their title, the second of the Verstappen era and in this 2023 they are being more forceful than ever. They are on their way to the third consecutive world championship with a car that is more than superior to the rest of the single-seaters on the grid. For now, they register full of victories, eight of eight. The last one, the one that has allowed them to celebrate their centenary of triumphs.
A lot to cut to Ferrari
Red Bull dominates F1 today and it did so a few years ago. However, in the Great Circus there is a clear champion: Ferrari. The Italian team is the most successful in history with 242 victories, 16 world championships for constructors and 15 for pilots. They have not found the key for years to compete forcefully to resume the path of victory, but it was not always like that.
Another of the teams that has a great trajectory behind it is McLaren. Those of Woking add up 183 victories, 8 Constructors’ and 12 Drivers’ World Championships. Big names such as Niki Lauda, Alain Prost or Ayrton Senna passed through the team, but the last title they won was with lewis hamilton. The British were also responsible for much of the achievements of Mercedes, which completes the podium with 125 victories, 8 constructors’ titles and 9 pilots’.
Red Bull is currently in the top five. Ahead of the Austrians is also Williams with 114 wins, 9 Constructors’ and 7 Drivers’ World Championships. If all goes as planned, Christian Horner’s team could match the historic team in drivers’ titles, but they would have to wait until next year to beat his record of victories.
