This year’s Championship battle between Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton will continue to be “tight and aggressive”, according to ex-Red Bull driver Christian Klien.
Mercedes currently lead both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings, with the Silver Arrows benefitting from Red Bull scoring just a couple of points from the last two grand prix to bounce back to the summit of the table.
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However, with Red Bull being in the Championship hunt for the first time since 2013, Klien believes they want to win this year’s title more than Mercedes.
“It’s pretty balanced, Red Bull is on an equal footing. But they will do more to win this world title than Mercedes,” Klien said in an interview with SpeedWeek.
“Red Bull have been trailing Mercedes for years. You can’t and don’t want to miss this opportunity.”
Continuing, the former Red Bull racer said he believes Verstappen’s “mega self-confidence” will help him bounce back from the disappointment of the last two races.
“In a way, he’s simpler as a racing driver. He’s a pure racer, he has mega self-confidence.
“This will help him a lot to get over the setbacks and to look ahead.
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“He will come out of the summer break even more motivated. And one thing is clear – it will remain tight and aggressive. Both are on an equal footing,” he added.
Formula 1 will return from its summer shutdown in late August, and Mercedes will go to Spa with a 12-point lead over Red Bull in the Constructors’ Standings, while Hamilton has an eight-point advantage over Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship.
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