'Red Bull dominance creates huge pressure on teams in F1 job market'

Max Verstappen drove with a broken drive shaft during qualifying, forcing him to stop in Q2 and start from P15 on Sunday. Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle was quietly pleased. The Brit looked forward to a nice catch-up race from the Dutchman.

Brundle quietly happy with Verstappen's problems

The Brit writes that in his column. Red Bull is so strong in 2023 that a P15 starting position for Sergio Perez or Verstappen can only make for spectacle. Brundle: "I have to be honest and say that when Max Verstappen had a driveshaft problem in qualifying meaning that he would start 15th on the grid, I was quietly pleased, relieved, and energised. Nothing against Max and his incredible talent, but at least we would have something to look forward to on race day."

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc also started a long way back due to a grid penalty. Verstappen finished P2, while Leclerc could not get past his teammate and the Mercedes cars. Perez won the race. The dominance shown by Red Bull this year is creating a striking phenomenon in Formula 1, Brundle observes.

Pressure on F1 labour market

Brundle: "Red Bull's dominant speed has put many teams and their key personnel under big pressure, not least Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. I've rarely witnessed such a broad challenge across so many teams and they'll be looking to hire experienced talent from other teams, who are themselves still feverishly protecting the people they already have under contract and collecting up other talents. Add in Audi (currently Sauber Alfa Romeo) on a major recruitment crusade ready for 2026 and, despite the cost cap, it's a seller's market for people who know how a Formula One team and car really works."