Season results: Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing’s dominance in the 2023 season will go down in history. 21 wins in 22 Grand Prix – this has never happened before…

All dominance is caused by the strength of some and the weakness of others. When the difference reaches a critical value, dominance arises

In Formula 1, with rare exceptions, one person always dominates. The law of the genre. Some managed to find an approach to the rules, build an original technical solution and a more powerful engine. The rest are forced to fight not for leadership, but among themselves.

The 2023 season was unique for Red Bull. And in terms of unconditional leadership, and in terms of points, and races won. If it had lasted twenty more races, Max would probably have won all twenty.

The new rules were developed to increase the density of the fight, and in the middle group of teams it turned out to be really bright, but it was so before, but in the fight for the title it turned out to be the opposite.

Under the previous regulations, the last season in 2021 turned out to be the best in many years, the fate of the title was decided in the last race and with the new regulations everyone except Red Bull Racing rolled back. Formula 1 has had one leader for the second year, and whatever Liberty Media says about the growth in popularity, it is declining – the fans do not like this monotony. And it is almost impossible to reverse the situation on a limited budget.

The car, built by Adrian Newey, is almost always on rails, just like when Vettel won title after title. And the team works like clockwork. Ideal pit stops, optimal strategy. They don’t make mistakes. Opponents simply don’t stand a chance.

And the reason is that there is no pressure. When you have a lead of half a second per lap and almost absolute reliability, you have nothing to worry about. This is a recipe for success in Formula 1. Previously these two factors ensured victories for Mercedes, now for Red Bull. And until the regulations change, nothing will change. Unless the FIA ​​comes up with something, but who asks the FIA ​​now? Now the Formula 1 management holds all the cards and is busy with their own business.

Naturally, the fine for violating financial regulations has in no way affected Red Bull’s results.

The most productive weekend was in Austria: 56 points per stage. Verstappen won the Saturday sprint, the Sunday race and set the fastest lap. Perez recorded the second fastest time in the sprint and third in the race. We fell just short of two winning doubles.

The worst weekend was in Singapore, where everything went wrong for Red Bull, but the team still earned 14 points. Mercedes managed to earn sixteen.

Just as Red Bull dominated Formula 1, Max Verstappen dominates the team. Only at the start of the season was Sergio Perez able to provide at least some resistance by winning in Jeddah and Baku, but then the car was modified, Max took the initiative and Sergio rolled back. The Mexican only finished on the podium nine times, in addition to Max’s 21 podium finishes.

Proponents of the conspiracy theory explain this by saying their cars were different, which happens in Formula 1, but there is no direct evidence for this. In any case, in the battle for the title in the strongest team there is always only one favorite, with rare exceptions. In recent years, only Mercedes has had equality.

Perez struggled to finish the season in second place, but he did it anyway and stayed in the squad. He is unlikely to be satisfied with this turn of events, but he competes in Formula 1, in the best team, in the best car of the season, any other option is a big step back.

There is no doubt that Red Bull’s lead will continue into 2024 unless revolutions occur. The team is strong, stable and confident. Everyone else now has to catch up and prove themselves. But let’s see, there are still 80 days until the start of the new season.