Following their weakest performance of the season so far, Red Bull Racing will be hoping to do better at their other ‘home’ Grand Prix, the British Grand Prix. It is a circuit which should suit the RB10 well, compared to Austria, which didn’t. After yet another technical failure for reigning four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, he will be hoping to finally have a weekend with no problems, something he arguably hasn’t had since he took a podium at Malaysia.
Silverstone is a circuit where Mark Webber used to absolutely thrive on, taking two brilliant victories there in 2010 and again in 2012. Sebastian Vettel also won there back in 2009, and the team were on pole each year between 2009 and 2011, so statistically they are very strong there.
Red Bull British GP Preview
No. 1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) – 5th
Form: 5/4/R/3/R
2013: Q: P3, R: Retired (Gearbox)
This race last year was Vettel’s one and only retirement of the year last year, having come to a halt last year whilst leading. Having already suffered three retirements in the first eight races this year, while his team mate has had just one, the German will not want too many more problems out of his control to occur this year. He had a torrid time in Austria, with a poor qualifying, and a race to forget. Being 23 points behind his team mate is not a complete disaster, but it’s certainly not ideal. He will definitely be hoping to put one over on his team mate, something he hasn’t done at all this season.
No. 3 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) – 3rd
Form: 4/3/3/1/8
2013 (Driving for Toro Rosso): Q: P5, R: P8
Performed one of his best races of last season here, taking a brilliant fifth on the grid behind the two Mercedes and the two Red Bulls, and finishing in eighth, separating the arguably faster Force Indias. Following a weekend to forget in Austria, Ricciardo, will be hoping to get things back on track, and will definitely be hoping to achieve more podium finishes; he already has three to his name. He has definitely established himself now as one to watch, given how he has beaten Vettel so far this season.
Red Bull now are establishing a very healthy lead ahead of Ferrari in the standings, partly due to the underperforming Kimi Raikkonen. To beat Mercedes over the course of the season when they have notched up six one-two finishes will be incredibly difficult to achieve, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Second in the championship would be a brilliant achievement given how many teething problems their car has had, and how many retirements they have had compared to Ferrari and the Mercedes-powered teams.
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