February 25 — As the longest-running Formula One season comes to an end in Bahrain, Max Verstappen appears certain to win the drivers’ championship for a record fourth time, with Red Bull once again emerging as the victorious team.
Regardless of the findings of an impartial inquiry into claims of dominating conduct by team leader Christian Horner, Red Bull has amassed an incredible amount of momentum and produced a breathtaking vehicle that exuded promise during preseason testing.
As the F1 circus begins an arduous and unprecedented run of 24 race weekends lasting to early December, a year of déjà vu is likely with steady, unchanging regulations and no changes to the driver lineups.
A leadership change is unlikely to have an impact on Verstappen’s mental toughness, the team’s well-honed winning habit, Adrian Newey’s creative genius, or his general sense of drive and thirst for more success.
Red Bull had every reason to think they can maintain their position at the top after storming to a record 21 wins in 22 races the previous year, with Verstappen taking home a record 19, along with 12 pole positions and nine fastest laps, as he amassed an incredible 575 points.
If Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez are to aspire for a clean sweep this time around, a lot will depend on Perez’s form, who won twice last year before faltering.
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