Red Bull won both Formula 1 championships this season unopposed, but the improvements McLaren made throughout the campaign have raised hopes of a title challenge next year. 2024.
McLaren is expected to turn Christian Horner’s fears about Red Bull’s 2024 championship chances into reality.
This Formula 1 season has been a relative success for Horner’s team. Red Bull claimed the constructors’ championship with six full weekends of racing remaining, while Max Verstappen claimed the drivers’ title last weekend with five Grands Prix remaining.
But there is a feeling that they are not as far ahead of everyone as they were at the beginning of the season, in terms of car performance. The RB19, at least in Verstappen’s hands, still leads – but the upgraded McLaren MCL60 has emerged as a real challenger in recent weeks. And they have two excellent, in-form riders leading the race. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have claimed back-to-back podiums in the last two races, although both were consistently beaten by Verstappen.
Sergio Perez’s difficulties have opened up opportunities for McLaren to take full advantage. The Mexican driver is currently going through a difficult time, although Red Bull at least has the consolation of knowing that his poor results will not cost them this year’s title.
But Horner is fully aware that if Perez cannot regain his best form next season, his team could face more problems. “The most important thing for us is to win both championships,” said the team principal. We have done that. And the most amazing thing after that was having two riders finish first and second.”
“You can see Mercedes has a pair, McLaren has a pair, Ferrari has a pretty tight pair between the respective drivers. I think we had that at the beginning of the year.” But as the season progressed, the situation became more and more diverse. We just need to get Checo back to the best shape he can be.
“We desperately want him back to that form and as a team we need him. We can’t have much separation because if, as you expect, the grid continues to combine with “Next year, we need both riders to complete the task at the top of the game.”
F1 commentator Alex Brundle believes that the strong duo at McLaren have what it takes to punish Red Bull and “bully” Verstappen if Perez still struggles next year. “They are used to running in front,” he said of Piastri and Norris when speaking to the BBC’s Checkered Flag podcast. “That’s also very important. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris might give them a bit of a problem being so close to each other on the track, but it opens up strategic opportunities for them moving forward. If Sergio Perez If you can’t find your form in this red shirt, Bull, it will be two against one harassment, right? If McLaren wins next year.”
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