Uncertainty on whether Red Bull are favourites: 'Mercedes could surprise'

In the Weekend Warm-Up on the Formula1.com YouTube channel, Sam Collins and Lawrence Barretto look ahead to the Formula One weekend in Azerbaijan. While Barretto thinks Red Bull Racing is the big favourite in Baku, Collins also looks at Mercedes.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is just around the corner and ahead of the weekend, eyes are once again on Red Bull Racing and Ferrari. Red Bull won the last three races of this season and also won the last edition of the GP in Baku with Sergio Perez. Ferrari is the main challenger and will especially want to strike back after the Monaco debacle.

Formula One journalist Barretto puts his money on Red Bull and Max Verstappen for this weekend. "Red Bull were strong here last year and I think they will be strong here again. Their top speed will really be a strength and Verstappen will want to put last year's misery behind him. I think they have to favourites this weekend."

Technical expert Collins doesn't quite agree. "Half of the circuit suits them and the other half does not. It will be an almighty scrap down the start-finish straight. I'm not sure they're going to win this race,'' he states. Collins even believes that Mercedes will be competing for the win now that its problems with porpoising seem to be under control.