Author: Barkha Roy
Red Bull Racing’s dominant start to the Formula 1 season took them to the same level as the legendary McLaren team in the 1988 season. Max Verstappen’s recent victory at the British Grand Prix marked his eighth win of the season and the team’s 11th in a row, equalling McLaren’s record. Red Bull’s unbeaten run dates back to the final race of 2022 in Abu Dhabi.
Team boss Christian Horner expressed his admiration for the achievement, comparing it to McLaren’s victories with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1988. Red Bull’s success is attributed to the team’s hard work, the drivers’ commitment, reliability and strategic experience. A win at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest on July 23 would take Red Bull into uncharted territory.
Red Bull has won an impressive 20 of the last 21 F1 races, the only exception being the São Paulo Grand Prix last November, won by George Russell for Mercedes. Horner acknowledged the phenomenal run of success, although he may have lost count, saying that the team has won 18 of the last 19, or 19 of the last 20 races.
The team’s success at Silverstone, a local circuit just 24 kilometers from its factory, has a special significance. Horner expressed immense pride at achieving such a remarkable result in front of staff and fans. Red Bull Racing is now aiming to become the first team to complete an undefeated season in F1, surpassing McLaren’s record of 15 wins in 16 races in 1988.
Meanwhile, the British Grand Prix saw the continued dominance of Max Verstappen, with Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris providing a thrilling battle behind him. Verstappen’s victory seemed inevitable, but Norris, who idolized Hamilton growing up, challenged him at the start of the race. The two British drivers engaged in an intense wheel-to-wheel battle, thrilling the record crowd of 160,000 spectators. In the end, Verstappen’s superiority in the Red Bull car prevailed, securing his undisputed victory.
Norris’ performance was excellent, earning him his seventh podium and the most exciting ever. The fight between Hamilton and Norris showed the intense competition in Formula 1, with Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ferrari and, potentially, McLaren competing closely for success. Hamilton praised the exciting nature of the current season, with shorter qualifying gaps making the competition more thrilling.
Verstappen’s lead over teammate Sergio Pérez increased to 99 points, underlining Red Bull’s dominance. The team remains undefeated, with Verstappen on course for his third championship. Behind Verstappen, the battle between Hamilton, Norris and other teams intensifies, making this season captivating for fans.