Opinion: How far will they go?

Red Bull and Max Verstappen are an unstoppable duo. Since the Dutchman joined the Austrian team in 2016, they have been breaking all records, from his first victory to his 12th consecutive victory in Hungary.

Red Bull is back in the spotlight, and while some may find this repetition tiresome, the fact remains that this is the team to watch. History has seen Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren enjoy similar reigns, each carving out a place for themselves in the history books. McLaren dominated the 1980s, Ferrari dominated the Schumacher era, and Mercedes dominated the hybrid era. Now it's Red Bull's turn to leave a trail of crumbs behind. Last season, it set the bar very high; this year, it has set it even higher. Since the start of 2023, not a single race has escaped the Austrian team. Its lead driver, Max Verstappen, spends his Sunday afternoons “sticking his elbow out the window” waiting for a challenger, but so far, none has materialized. McLaren is slowly closing in, but the threat remains modest. The Hungarian Grand Prix perfectly illustrated the gap: Verstappen finished 33 seconds ahead of Lando Norris, a margin that leaves little doubt as to who is in control of the race.

This dominance may seem arrogant, but it's hard to argue with the technical genius behind the Red Bull package. Their car suits Verstappen perfectly, allowing the two-time (and soon-to-be three-time) world champion to dominate even when he doesn't start from pole position, as he proved in Hungary. With every win and podium finish, the Verstappen-Red Bull partnership writes a new chapter. Their 12th win this season erased a McLaren record that had stood since 1988, and Verstappen is closing in on Sebastian Vettel's streak of nine consecutive wins. The lack of suspense for the final victory may be disappointing, but it makes any surprise all the more impressive. When Lewis Hamilton took pole position, the crowd cheered him on; had he done the same during his 2019-2020 dominance, the reaction would likely have been boos. As a colleague said, “seeing a driver succeed after failure makes him more human and more endearing.” Today, Red Bull is the giant everyone wants to topple, and Verstappen is the target all his rivals hope to hit. This pressure could spur other teams to embark on a development race to finally dethrone the Red Bull giant. For now, however, the Austrian team comfortably occupies first place, with the only competition coming from records. The question remains: how far can they push their lead?