As the Formula One season kicks off in Bahrain, all eyes are on Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, who are widely expected to continue their dominance and secure a fourth consecutive drivers’ title. 

Despite ongoing investigations into allegations against team boss Christian Horner, Red Bull’s momentum remains strong, buoyed by Verstappen’s exceptional talent, Adrian Newey’s design prowess, and a hunger for more success.

Verstappen’s outstanding performance in the previous season, where he clinched a record number of wins and points, sets the stage for another impressive campaign. However, his success will also depend on the performance of his teammate Sergio Perez, who needs to deliver consistently to support Red Bull’s quest for victory.

“It’s a team that operates at its best when they are winning,” said former Red Bull race winner Daniel Ricciardo, who remains this year with the re-named Red Bull junior team, RB, having shrugged off the Alpha Tauri label.

“When they’re winning, it’s like they just want to crush the competition completely. It’s not like ‘ok, now we’re winning, let’s go on holiday’. It’s like ‘let’s really put our feet down.”

While rival teams have made improvements to their cars, none have matched the level of updates seen in Red Bull’s RB20, indicating the team’s relentless drive to crush the competition. Ferrari, led by Frederic Vasseur and featuring Lewis Hamilton as their new driver, aim to challenge Red Bull’s dominance, but acknowledge the gap they need to close.

Mercedes, with a more refined car, and McLaren, with optimistic prospects, are also in the mix, but acknowledge the daunting task of catching up to Red Bull. Meanwhile, Aston Martin and the rest of the field face a tough battle against the dominant force in Formula One.

As the season unfolds, drivers and teams brace themselves for the challenges ahead in what Alonso aptly describes as a “brutal sport,” where success is hard-won and competition fierce.