THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION FOR RED Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari is how many punches they used to close out last season, and what effect that might have had on their 2022 research and development programmes. But Red Bull has a lot of experienced campaigners and great stability, with Adrian Newey at the helm, continuity of Honda engine supply, etc. It should be in as good a shape as anybody and will be culturally motivated, as well as culturally happy, although Mercedes will want to settle a score.
Red Bull is traditionally very well organised and I don’t think for one second it’ll be resting on any laurels from last season. It didn’t get the title for constructors, but it got the big one – Max Verstappen might have scraped through in the end, an interesting finish, to say the least, but he’d driven brilliantly all season and having No1 on a car will be used by the team as a positive as it prepares to renew battle.