The 2021 F1 season started off with a bang, as rivals, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, fought each other to the line at Bahrain GP, with the Mercedes driver coming off as the winner and the Red Bull star driver just 0.7 seconds off.
Yes, it was yet another Mercedes’ race win at a season-opener; the third season in a row. The last time a non-Mercedes driver stood on the top step was Sebastian Vettel in 2018 while racing for Ferrari.
However, the good news is that the fight for the title is very much lit, and Red Bull have been waiting for this opportunity for years, ever since they experienced partial downfall following the initiation of the hybrid era in F1. Hence, the fact is that the Austrian outfit aren’t going down without a fight.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Amid such positive signs, Red Bull would want to extend their pace advantage over Mercedes through frequent updates to the car.
But when will the fans get to see that? Well, Red Bull’s advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko, has the answer to it.
The 77-year-old acknowledged that the team will carry in their first major upgrade soon, and it isn’t at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
When will the major upgrade arrive on the doorsteps of the Red Bull garage?
As reported by F1-Insider, Marko revealed that the first of Red Bull’s major upgrades will hit the garage over the third race weekend at Portimao, Portugal.
“The question is who has more room for improvement. As for us, in Imola, we will more or less drive the car that started in Bahrain,” he said.
“There we have to put an end to the mistakes we made in Bahrain. Then we are very well positioned. The first major update will come with us at the third race in Portugal.”
Despite losing out on a race win in Bahrain, Red Bull are still looking solid against Mercedes. As for the Silver Arrows, there are some massive tweaks to be done in the factory and in the garage.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Furthermore, the Stuttgart-outfit will also wary of Sergio Perez‘s threat next weekend. The Mexican is still on the learning curve with the tricky Red Bull car. However, it looks like he could get into full swing by the time F1 arrives at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Mercedes‘ second driver, Valtteri Bottas has looked a bit off since the pre-season testing. And history suggests that he might struggle all the way till the end.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
So, is Lewis ready to face the potential double-trouble of the Red Bull duo? Can Bottas play a helping hand in this juicy battle?
Read More – Marko Makes a Surprising Revelation Over Max Verstappen’s Race in Bahrain – ‘Had Problems’