Is Red Bull really that fast? 'Verstappen was on the limit'

After the winter test in Bahrain, everyone is looking at Red Bull Racing. Where Mercedes had a hard time, Red Bull completed a great test. Is it vain hope, or will there really be a fight for the title this year?

Is Mercedes really struggling?

Since the hybrid era, Mercedes has been supreme in Formula 1. The Germans won every title since 2014 and were unapproachable in the winter test so far. In 2021, however, plenty goes wrong. Mercedes had major gearbox problems on day one but mostly ran into the unstable car in the days that followed.

''Is it because we are used to perfection from Mercedes that these faults are more noticeable now, or are we really just seeing a car that is very unsettled to drive for the drivers?'', Will Buxton wonders for F1TV after the winter test. Jolyon Palmer is standing next to him and doesn't dare put his finger on it either.

Red Bull on the attack

''It's very difficult to assess. It's a Mercedes and they are so strong. In 2019 everyone also thought Ferrari would take the title, but at the first race Mercedes shot out of the gates and we saw the maybe the most dominant performance ever. However, they have never struggled more in my opinion. They will certainly be close during the first race, but that car really doesn't look good on the track.''

The former Formula One driver has a higher opinion of Red Bull Racing in that regard. ''If you take tests, they are definitely the favourite. Max Verstappen was fast, on the limit, but so many drivers were. The Red Bull just looks really good. Especially in Verstappen's hands. He is more familiar with it of course, but he is also really fast'', concludes Palmer.