Red Bull Racing returns to the scene of Sebastian Vettel’s start to his incredible run of nine victories on the bounce this week as the Formula One circus head’s to Spa-Francorchamps. Vettel won every single race after the summer break last year. While that sort of form is incredibly unlikely this year, he will be looking to at least start to have a real go at the point deficit to team mate Daniel Ricciardo.
Red Bull Belgian GP Preview
The lack of power supplied by the Renault powertrain means that Red Bull should be pretty useless here. I’m not entirely convinced however, as they performed on par with the Williams-Mercedes at Canada, a circuit with a similar level of downforce and straights in proportion to the corners. Red Bull finished first and third in that race due to the problems suffered by the Mercedes, but it showed that Red Bull could perform on a track that did not suit them on paper. With the weather factor too, if it does rain, all that downforce will come in handy.
No. 1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) – 6th
Form: 3/R/5/4/7
2013: Grid: P2, Race: P1
Vettel’s form against his team mates post-summer break is somewhat eye-watering, especially over the last couple of years. He will need to repeat that sort of form to swing the pendulum at Red Bull back in the favour of the German driver. It will be interesting to see how the two drivers perform in the second half of the season compared to each other. Vettel is a double winner here and is looking to join the select few to make it three in Belgium. That looks very unlikely but should Mercedes hit problems, he will need to be there to pounce.
No. 3 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) – 3rd
Form: 1/8/3/6/1
2013: Grid: P19, Race: P10
Ricciardo had effectively a backwards race here last year. He qualified badly and raced through the field into the top 10. It was an impressive drive and he snuck into the points as a result. He will be looking to continue his awesome form heading into the second half of the season. I have currently given him the top rating out of all of the drivers so far this season, and if he continues the form that he had in the first half of the year, he could well end the year on at least a 9/10, which is a rating I don’t give too often!
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