'You can see from Mercedes: Verstappen puts them under pressure'

Looking back at the magisterial French Grand Prix, where both Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing were able to make their mark on a traditional Mercedes stronghold, former racing driver Gerhard Berger sees a clear changing of the guard, and predicts a hugely exciting title fight for the rest of the season.

Asked, in conversation Krone Zeitung, whether, with Red Bull's strong current form and a mediocre Mercedes, he foresees a changing of the guard, Berger replied as follows: "At the moment, yes. Clearly. Le Castellet is actually considered a Mercedes track. The fact that the Red Bull was so strong there is, surprisingly the wrong word, a confirmation of the last races."

Berger then particularly emphasises the positive developments at Red Bull as the underlying cause of this new situation. "I would say Red Bull is on an upward spiral. Mercedes is really challenged for the first time," said the German.

You can feel the pressure exerted by Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez and the whole Red Bull squad. And that's a new situation for her after so many years of dominance. And that creates pressure," Berger concluded.