Azerbaijan Grand Prix Preview: Can Red Bull Rule in Baku?
As the Formula One season revs up for its fourth race of 2018, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, the championship battle is heating up too. After Mercedes won the first three poles and two races, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel leads the drivers' standings by nine points over Lewis Hamilton, while the Silver Arrows top the constructors' table by only one point ahead of the Prancing Horse. Can any other team challenge them in Azerbaijan?
One team that could well do so is Red Bull. Despite starting the season with a slower car than their rivals, the energy drink outfit has managed to score two podium finishes and challenge for victory in the last race in China. Furthermore, both their drivers, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, have won in Baku before, in 2017 and 2016 respectively. What makes the Red Bull RB14 a threat in Azerbaijan?
One factor is the track layout. The Baku City Circuit is a street circuit that combines long straights, tight corners and a narrow windy section around the medieval walls of the Old City. This means that engine power, traction, braking and downforce are all important, as well as avoiding mistakes and collisions. Red Bull's Renault-powered car may still lack top speed compared to Mercedes and Ferrari, but it has shown better traction and downforce in slower corners, which could help in the twisty part of the track.
Another factor is the tire choices. For Azerbaijan, Pirelli has nominated the medium, soft and supersoft compounds, which are all a step softer than the ones used in China. Red Bull has been known to be more gentle with its tires than Mercedes and Ferrari, which could give it an advantage if the soft and supersoft selections degrade faster than expected. However, tire management alone won't be enough to win, as proven by the Red Bulls in Australia and Bahrain, where they had to settle for fourth and fifth respectively.
A third factor is the motivation of the Red Bull drivers. Ricciardo and Verstappen are both fast, fearless and hungry for success, but they also have a rivalry that can sometimes lead to clashes, like in China, where they collided and compromised each other's race. However, they have also shown that they can work together when needed, like in Baku last year, when they finished first and fifth in a chaotic race that saw Hamilton retire and Vettel penalized. If Red Bull can keep their drivers in check and give them a car that is competitive on all fronts, they could be the surprise winners in Azerbaijan.
Of course, Red Bull is not the only team that could challenge Mercedes and Ferrari in Baku. McLaren, Renault, Haas and Force India have also shown glimpses of potential, while Williams, Sauber and Toro Rosso are struggling to keep up with the pace. However, none of them have the mix of speed, strategy and talent that Red Bull has, especially in a circuit like Baku.
In conclusion, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix could be a crucial race for Red Bull, as they aim to catch up with Mercedes and Ferrari in the standings and prove their worth as contenders for the title. If they can perform well in practice, qualify ahead of the Silver Arrows and the Prancing Horse, and race smartly and aggressively, they could win their third race in Baku and their first in 2018. Whether they do or not, they will surely make the race more exciting to watch.
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