Is Red Bull ready to dethrone Mercedes?
For at least one more year, before the 2021 rules revolution, Formula 1 is going to be (unofficially) a two-class championship. That means only six cars can realistically expect to pick up victories. In a dream scenario, Ferrari and Red Bull would build on their progress of last season and take the fight to Mercedes. But, judging by the pre-season testing form in Spain and the downbeat sentiment coming from Ferrari, it’s up to Red Bull to lead the charge.
The team spent 2019 learning and bonding with a new engine supplier, and overall its first Honda-powered campaign must be considered a success. Although the team ended up one down on its win tally compared to its score with Renault engines in 2018 (four that year and three last season), given Honda’s difficulties with McLaren and a 2018 season bedding into the Red Bull camp with what was then called Toro Rosso, such success wasn’t guaranteed.
Going into the new campaign, which at the time of writing is still set to get under way in Melbourne this weekend, expectations are for more progress from the Red Bull-Honda alliance. But, with Ferrari’s projection that it is behind its two ‘Class A’ rivals at this stage, there’s additional expectation towards Red Bull from anybody hoping that the 2020 season is going to be one for the ages, with more than Mercedes in some indications that suggest this could indeed be the year when F1’s previously dominant squad finally closes the gap.
