McLaren is dominating the F1 World Championship with an iron fist, and only Max Verstappen is troubling Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri in the drivers’ standings, while in the constructors’ championship, everything seems painted papaya orange. But Red Bull and Mercedes believe that the gap can be closed, that they are not so far behind, and they are bringing improvements to Imola with which they hope to reduce the gap.
McLaren dominates the start of the World Championship
McLaren has started the season in the same vein as it ended last year, as the best team, but with the feeling that it is now a stronger and more experienced team. This is demonstrated by both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings.
In the constructors‘ standings, there is no debate. McLaren now has 246 points, double that of its closest rival, Mercedes, which has 141 points. Red Bull is already much further behind with 105 points, and Ferrari currently has only 94 points, putting it in fourth place in the World Championship.
There is a little more parity in the Drivers’ Championship, where the battle between Piastri and Norris, and the quality and ambition of Verstappen, make the championship a little tighter, although race after race, the men in orange have been pulling away. Oscar Piatri leads the championship with 131 points, followed by Lando Norris with 115 points. In third place is Verstappen with 99 points. The four-time world champion knows that there is still a long way to go in the World Championship and that if the team manages to improve, he will be able to get back into the fight. But we must not forget Russell, who is quietly sitting in fourth place with 93 points and is hoping for the same from Mercedes to try and spring a surprise.
Improvements from Red Bull and Mercedes
Christian Horner and Toto Wolff, leaders of Red Bull and Mercedes respectively, confirmed that there will be improvements to their cars for this weekend’s Imola Grand Prix. The two teams are still pursuing the same goal: to catch up with McLaren, fight for the drivers’ championship and, why not, also fight for the constructors’ championship. Their rival will not have any new updates for the moment, and they are aware that if they manage to make up a few tenths, they could get back into the battle. And once they are in the battle, anything can happen.
Max Verstappen is the favorite to cause McLaren some concern. So far this season, with a car that is much worse than his rivals’, he has managed to win one race and snatch two pole positions from his rivals, unexpectedly and masterfully. He is one of the few drivers on the grid who is capable of winning races and titles without having the best car. That’s how he won the World Championship last year and that’s how he’s fighting this year, without being on equal terms, far from it.
And to rule out Mercedes with so few races gone would be reckless, something no one in the world of F1 would dare to do. The team led by Toto Wolff has proven year after year that it has more than enough ability to turn adverse situations around. They no longer have Hamilton, but Russell is showing solidity and consistency in what has been a difficult start for the team, and they are confident that if they manage to take a step forward, they will have a chance to get into the fight for the World Championship.
F1 arrives in Europe, many teams will bring updates to their cars, and it’s time to make a move. There may be changes on the grid, not significant, but enough to turn the F1 World Championship upside down. McLaren is currently dominating, but Red Bull and Mercedes want to reign supreme again in the final year of the current regulations.