“They are definitely surmountable,” Ex-Ferrari race engineer asserts that Red Bull is not unbeatable

Oracle Red Bull Racing has begun 2023 carrying forward its momentum from the prior year and looks phenomenal. They have looked to be in a league of their own in the last 3 races and demolished their competition, sparking fears of a clean sweep from fans and the paddock alike.

Despite their astonishing pace, former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley believes that the Austrian team isn’t unbeatable yet. Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Smedley said,“They’re definitely catchable. In the qualifying sessions that we’ve seen up to now, they are definitely surmountable. In the race, they have a strong car, there’s no doubt about that. But again, I don’t think that you can look at it and say ‘it’s all over and they can’t be caught’”. He also invoked a comparison to teams that have dominated in the past, determining that Christian Horner‘s team isn’t yet out-qualifying their rivals by exorbitant amounts.

Smedley also gave the team their due credit, admitting that they’re a little further ahead in development than everyone expected. He has however insisted that margins are not yet big enough to draw any assumptions, implying that with the right optimization and effort from drivers and teams alike, Red Bull can be challenged for wins and the title.

Related: “We understand the car much better,” Toto Wolff hints mega Mercedes upgrades ahead of Azerbaijan GP

Red Bull have established themselves as title favorites once again, but can still be contested

Red Bull are looking to replicate the success they enjoyed in 2022 this season. The team has looked formidable in the opening stages of the season, with strong race reliability and pace. Their intent to win the title and continue their new era of dominance is well-known, however, they must remain cautious and grounded in anticipation of the challenges they can face in the upcoming races.

The Austrian team have accumulated 123 points in the first 3 races, claiming pole position and victory in all. They have established a sizeable lead in excess of 60 points to the likes of Aston Martin and Mercedes who sit below them. However, with the 4-week break post the Australian Grand Prix, teams have been granted an opportunity to develop their car further and hope to be able to contest with the likes of Red Bull.

Aston Martin has made an astonishing leap to becoming podium contenders, contrary to their lacklustre prior season. With that level of development, a few upgrades and breakthroughs could well render them championship contenders, taking the fight to Red Bull. Similarly, Mercedes are anticipated to bring in a huge upgrade package to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Considering their strong improvement over the course of the first 3 races, these upgrades could potentially put them on par with the championship leaders, making life difficult for them on track.

Regardless of Red Bull’s seemingly unassailable lead, engineering and developmental breakthroughs, coupled with the right attitude and motivation from other teams could definitely see the World Champions’ quest for dominance disputed. Thus the Austrian team cannot get too acquainted with this level of superiority and must remain focused on staying ahead.

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