Webber: An F1 title win for Verstappen would be "long overdue"

Red Bull Racing expressed its grave concerns about the balance of power between Mercedes and the Austrians after the Turkish Grand Prix. Where Max Verstappen was able to compete well with Lewis Hamilton all season, the Brit now seems to have more speed.

With the US and Mexico GPs on the cards, Red Bull was confident, but that changed during the first free practice sessions in Turkey. Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas appeared to be much faster on the track than Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, immediately raising the question of whether this is the same at other tracks.

Mark Webber thought it was an interesting development. The former Formula 1 driver states in the F1 Nation podcast: "It was interesting. I think in terms of performance [in both the] dry and wet, Red Bull know they need to react to the Mercedes' pace now, with these new engines that Mercedes have put in the back of the car, or some aero, or whatever's going on."

Verstappen currently leads the world championship by six points, but it remains to be seen whether this will remain the case. Webber does not begrudge the Dutchman this. "I think Max thoroughly deserves his first world title. It's long overdue."