Webber: 'Despite penalty, Red Bull still the most dangerous team'

Red Bull Racing may spend 10 per cent less time in the wind tunnel in 2023, having exceeded their budget ceiling in 2021. Mark Webber does not think this penalty is going to have too big an impact on the RB19's performance. The former Formula 1 driver sees Max Verstappen's team as the favourite next season, although he is also very curious to see Mercedes' move.

"Red Bull are still the most dangerous team coming out of the blocks. I don't think anyone knows really how much that's going to impact them, but I'm sure they've got enough creative people there to keep it going," said Webber, who also argues that the Austrian racing team is lucky to have one special person at their team. "And Max, it's just ‘Formula 1 plus’ for him at times."

Competition from Mercedes

However, the 46-year-old Australian does think Red Bull will face more competition from Mercedes next year. The German formation hit the mark with the W13, but signs of recovery were evident in the second half of the season. At the same time, Toto Wolff's team soon knew that there would be no more in it than a third-place finish in the world championship, making it likely that they shifted their focus early on to 2023.

Webber states at Autosport.com that Mercedes may have committed all their resources to 2023 in the final months of last year. As a result, Mercedes might just manage to take a very big step forward when the very first Grand Prix of the season takes place in Bahrain in March. This fact and the fact that Red Bull faces an aerodynamic handicap could make for an interesting start to the season, according to Webber.