Red Bull are undoubtedly riding high in the 2023 Formula 1 season, having won every Grand Prix and the Baku Sprint race, with no car seemingly able to compete with their race pace.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have traded victories in the opening four rounds, sharing two Grand Prix victories each and putting Red Bull almost 100 points clear of its nearest rivals in the Constructors’ race.
The seemingly untouchable Red Bull duo has raised questions over whether the team is completely dominating Formula 1 and what that means for the sport as a whole.
However, former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has disputed the idea that Red Bull are as dominant as Mercedes were during the Silver Arrows’ eight-year reign as Constructors’ Champions.
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“It’s not as big as the Mercedes domination that used to be, so why are we complaining about it?” Villeneuve told RacingNews365.com.
“It’s not massive. They didn’t get pole. They’re just working better.
“When you had the Mercedes domination, they could make mistakes and still win easily. Red Bull cannot afford to make a mistake. They win because they’re better, the car’s a little bit better.
“The driver works better with the engineers, there’s no chaos, there’s no politics. They all work in the same direction, so they end up winning.
“But if they make a mistake, they don’t win. So it’s not clear domination, they’re just ever [so] slightly better. That gives them maybe a little bit of margin, but only if they work properly.”
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Red Bull will be determined to continue their string of victories when they race around the Miami circuit this weekend, a track that could play to Perez’s strength.
Essentially a street circuit, Perez could thrive on the tight track, as he looks to lead the Drivers’ Standings for the first time in his career.
Should Perez win in Miami, even if Verstappen comes in second, the Mexican will take the lead in the title race, putting pressure on the Dutchman as he bids for a hattrick of championships.