F1 commentator Davide Valsecchi has questioned whether Red Bull has the necessary knowledge to manage F1 engines following Honda’s withdrawal from F1.
The relationship between Red Bull and Honda started in 2018 with the engine supply at the sister team Toro Rosso. That year’s performance was sufficient to extend the partnership to Red Bull Racing from 2019.
The Red Bull Honda partnership grew until Max Verstappen won the Drivers’ Championship in 2021, but before the success of the title was ensured, Honda’s partnership from F1 at the end of the 2021 season The withdrawal was announced.
However, Honda still manufactures and supplies the 2022 F1 engine for Red Bull even following the withdrawal of F1, and the relationship between the two companies is not completely over. Red Bull F1 now has its own engine division called Red Bull Powertrains.
However, Max Verstappen has begun a credible season with two very expensive retirements in the first three rounds of 2022.
Although he won the second round of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he retired while driving second in both Bahrain and Australia, effectively losing 36 points and Max Verstappen sunk to sixth place in the drivers’ championship.
Max Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez also retired on the final lap in Bahrain due to the same fuel pump problem. Pierre Guthrie and Yuki Tsunoda are also facing problems with their sister team, Alpha Tauri.
Davide Valsecchi raises the question that Red Bull F1 may lack the necessary knowledge during the transition to Honda F1.
“We are having a hard time understanding the details of Red Bull and its problems, because they are by no means clear in their disclosure,” said Davide Valsecchi of Sky Italia.
“They have already replaced many engine parts at Perez in Bahrain, today (Australia) and Verstappen in Bahrain, as well as AlphaTauri.”
“From the outside, we can see that they have a lot of problems. Honda’s farewell is a big weight. The transition is causing some difficulties and probably Red Bull has no knowledge. The team is good. It may not be blended. There are too many problems. “
Max Verstappen did not retire at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but at the end of the race he overtook Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and received the checkered flag 0.5 seconds behind.
However, Charles Leclerc showed another dimension in the Australian field, eventually winning the Grand Slam, 20 seconds behind second-placed Sergio Perez.
“The difference between Ferrari and Red Bull in the race was bigger than we saw on Friday,” said Davide Valsecchi.
“Mercedes was closer to Red Bull than the difference to Red Bull and Ferrari. This is a surprise.”
Charles Leclerc was not challenged to victory at Albert Park, except for a slight wobble in the form of a tricky safety car restart.
So if Max Verstappen stays in the title race, it’s important to make sure he finishes second in such a race. After the race, Verstappen said Red Bull mightn’t expect to aim for the title if these reliability issues continued.
Davide Valsecchi described the 2022 F1 Australian Grand Prix as the best race weekend of Charles Leclerc’s career.
“It’s the best weekend of his career,” said Davide Valsecchi.
“I tried the race simulations on Friday and seemed to be on the same level as others, but destroyed them on Sunday, proved to be joking on Friday and showed tremendous power to my rivals. Obviously the best weekend of my career. “
“Verstappen’s statement confirms that, he said,’My car retires me like this, now I’m fighting Leclerc, like the wrath of God, but I can’t fight anymore.'” It’s like saying ”
Category: Category: F1 / Red bull / Honda F1 / Alpha Tauri
