No need to panic: 'Doesn't mean Mercedes has an advantage now'

A number of people have expressed their concerns about the speed difference between Red Bull Racing and Mercedes last weekend. In an interview with the Dutch branch of Motorsport.com Dutch driver Renger van der Zande gives his opinion about last weekend. According to him, there is no reason to panic yet.

Van der Zande still has confidence in the championship for Max Verstappen and Red Bull. According to the driver, Mercedes' extra top speed does not mean that they are suddenly faster than Red Bull, but it depends on the type of circuit that Formula 1 drives on that weekend.

"I find it very typical how they praise each other in Formula 1 every time. Hamilton keeps saying that Red Bull is faster, and now Red Bull keep saying that Mercedes is faster. Of course it could just have been the track. The difference between AlphaTauri and Red Bull was small, often it is a bit bigger. Maybe Red Bull just didn't have it right in Turkey. I think it's more to be sought in that Mercedes just had a bit of an advantage."

Impressive performance Verstappen

Van der Zande continues: "Some tracks just suit one chassis better so Mercedes maybe had an advantage in Turkey, but that doesn't mean they have an immediate advantage for the rest of the season. Verstappen and Red Bull are very consistent, they're doing very well so I'm confident that it doesn't matter who is faster than the other on a weekend."

Furthermore, the Dutchman is impressed with Verstappen's consistent performance. "When Max finishes a race, he's driving in first or second place. It's first, second or a DNF every time. That is quite an impressive way of performing. From the team and from Max himself."