Formula 1
Insiders insist no writing off Red Bull yet
GMM
Edited: Mar 20, 2012, 4:01 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Mar.20 (GMM) Paddock regulars insist the formerly-dominant Red Bull team cannot be written off after a single defeat in Australia.
On paper, reigning back-to-back champion Sebastian Vettel's second place on Sunday doesn't look bad.
But Melbourne was in fact the first race since before either of the German's title-winning campaigns in 2010 and 2011 that a Red Bull car failed to lead a single lap.
"You cannot discount them, they (Red Bull) are always there," said Albert Park winner Jenson Button, "but it seems that the tables have turned."
After not winning a title since 2008 with Lewis Hamilton, Button's McLaren colleagues will hope that is true.
Red Bull Racing fan
Photo by: xpb.cc
"Red Bull needs to dress warmly," German racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck told Sport1, "although I see McLaren on an equal footing only."
He warned against over-analysing the Melbourne result.
"This is not a benchmark for the rest of the season -- the Malaysia circuit is much more meaningful because who is good there is good everywhere."
However, McLaren hinted after Melbourne that it could actually have performed more strongly last weekend.
"We were more than marginal on fuel," boss Martin Whitmarsh is quoted by Kleine Zeitung newspaper. "There is no question we could have been faster (in Australia)."
But so could Red Bull, Vettel insists.
"In Melbourne, we learned a lot about the behaviour of our car, which has great potential," he said.
"We need to make it harder for McLaren in Malaysia."
Triple world champion Niki Lauda agrees: "Red Bull will catch up quickly."
This is not a benchmark for the rest of the season
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Team advisor Dr Helmut Marko insisted: "We have not brought everything out of the car yet. So we are very optimistic about the next races."
He is also dismissive of Red Bull's other rivals.
"Only McLaren are on par with us," said Marko, who scorned at Mercedes, the team who fared strongly in Melbourne before suffering in the race.
"They were more like a chicane," the acid-tongued Austrian added, according to laola1.at.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Coulthard worried Hamilton already beaten
Next article FOTA complaints led to 'special deal' report axe
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 13, 2015
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Apr 13, 2015
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 5, 2015
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
More from
Jenson Button
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Formula 1
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
2 mo
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1 2 mo
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
More from
Red Bull Racing
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
Formula 1 15 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Latest news
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
General
Misc General 4 h
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
10 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
11 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe