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Jenson Button, Formula 1 World Champion with Brawn GP in 2009, does not see Red Bull winning the constructor’s title this season. According to the Briton, the Austrian firm could even be beaten by Ferrari.
F1 is unpacking its bags this weekend in Austin to compete in the United States Grand Prix, the 19th round of the championship. After a more than successful start to the season, Red Bull is now 41 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings. With six Grands Prix remaining in the season, Red Bull must even look in the rearview mirror, since Scuderia Ferrari is only 34 points behind the World Champion team in 2023.
These different points gaps lead Jenson Button to say that McLaren will win the constructor’s title this season and that Red Bull will only finish in third place in the championship.
“I can’t remember the last time a team won the drivers’ championship and finished third in the constructors’ championship“Button told Sky Sports’ F1 podcast.It’s extreme, isn’t it? This shows what a good job Max did in the car. I don’t see Red Bull beating McLaren at the moment.“
Indeed, while Red Bull saw its championship lead melt away like snow in the sun, Max Verstappen managed to save the furniture and retain the lead in the drivers’ standings. The three-time reigning World Champion is now 53 points ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren), his first pursuer.
Read also: Horner on the Pérez case: Red Bull “can’t afford it”
Red Bull will have to count on Sergio Pérez
According to Jenson Button, Red Bull must abandon its title hopes and will even have to protect its position against Scuderia Ferrari. To do this, Sergio Pérez will need to raise his driving level.
“I really don’t see, in terms of performance until the end of the season, Red Bull beating McLaren, but I think Ferrari can compete with Red Bull. I don’t think they will score more points in each race. Ferrari is much more likely to beat Red Bull than Red Bull is to beat McLaren.”
In recent seasons, the titled driver has tended to make his team triumph in the constructors’ standings. The last time this did not happen was at the end of the 2021 season. Max Verstappen then won the driver’s title and Mercedes the constructors’ title. Finally, to respond to Jenson Button, the last time a team finished in third place in the constructors’ championship while its driver became World Champion was in 1983. Nelson Piquet was crowned while his team, Brabham BMW had failed to finish third in the constructors’ championship.
Also read: Montoya reveals why Pérez kept his drive at Red Bull
