formula 1
Haug about the Red Bull pursuers: Not nearly good enough
Former Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug talks about the disappointments and surprises of the season. photo
© Christoph Schmidt/dpa
Max Verstappen could have taken on Mercedes or Ferrari alone this year. That says a lot about the Red Bull rivals – the former Mercedes motorsport boss also thinks.
The former Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug did not give the Red Bull competition a satisfactory report before the Formula 1 season finale.
“Such a clear superiority or inferiority, depending on which perspective you look at the competitive situation, has never happened in the history of Formula 1 since 1950,” Haug told the German Press Agency. The 70-year-old emphasized that this could by no means be the basis for an exciting World Cup in the long term.
Max Verstappen has been confirmed as world champion again for a long time, and since the last race in Las Vegas his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez has no longer been able to take second place in the World Championship. Red Bull has also already won the title in the constructors’ world championship.
The points in the team rankings show how superior Verstappen is in particular: Mercedes is second ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with 392 points and four points ahead of Ferrari. However, Verstappen alone has already scored 549 points this year. The 26-year-old Dutchman would not be able to be caught by Mercedes even if he scored maximum points at the Yas Marina Circuit.
“Didn’t give anyone a chance”
Verstappen has won 18 of the 21 races so far. “As much as this speaks for the overwhelming strength of Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, it clearly describes that the competition in 2023 was nowhere near good enough,” said Haug.
Verstappen has gone one step further compared to last year, said ex-pilot Timo Glock to the dpa. “He felt like he had the upper hand in every situation, in every lap, in every free training session this year and didn’t give anyone a chance. He didn’t make any mistakes at all and continued to develop.”
The 41-year-old Sky expert and former Formula 1 driver attested that Verstappen had “really an outstanding season”, while Red Bull’s pursuers Mercedes and Ferrari had not made the decisive steps.