Lewis Hamilton believes Red Bull has a "stunning car" that will definitely be a frontrunner once the reigning Formula 1 champion team gets its reliability issues under control.
While Red Bull has struggled with mechanical problems throughout 2014 pre-season testing, Hamilton's Mercedes team has led the way in terms of mileage and often in terms of pace as well.
But the 2008 world champion does not expect Red Bull to be behind for long, and he was full of praise for the RB10's design. "They look like they have a stunning car, and usually the more beautiful it is the faster it is so I'm sure they've got a pretty quick car this year," Hamilton said in the Bahrain paddock on Sunday night.
"Once they get the engine sorted, or the systems that they might be struggling with, I think they'll - as always - be very hard to beat.
"Sebastian is the reigning world champion so he's the target for everyone.
"But I know my team is strong so hopefully we'll be able to fight with them."
Hamilton added that the 2014 pre-season was like no other he had experienced, and he warned that there is "a lot more to come" from the Mercedes after he did not get the most out of the super-soft tyre at the end of the day.
"It's definitely the weirdest and most difficult pre-season to be able to judge where everyone is," he said.
"There's still things we're learning, things we haven't covered, there's tonnes of stuff.
"So as we go into the race weekend it will be a bit like a test on the Friday. I think there's a lot more to come.
"There will be mistakes through the whole paddock I'm sure, and hopefully we'll make the least."
Let us hope Newey does not fix the car until we are halfway through the season. Give everyone a chance ffs.
Link; http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/formula-1-red-bull-stunning-car-hamilton-163721497--f1.html
RedBull has Stunning Car
posted on 5/3/14
bwfcc
good evening bw
to be honest i am not particularly a fan of vettel or any of the current drivers but i tend to have alot of respect for the really intelligent smart drivers that are clever inside and out of the car obviously they have to be very quick as well , if they talk sense out of the car instead of the usual corporate bollox so much the better ,
hence why i tend to favour alonso and vettel , none of the other current lot comes remotely close to those two when you are talking about intelligence and speed combined -
must admit my respect went up for vettel last year when he told red bull to shuv there team orders , none of the other drivers would have the bollox to do that -
got high hopes for bottas as well , like the way he drives and the intelligence he comes out with when he opens his mouth --
posted on 5/3/14
The 2014 cars in Bahrain were up to 25 kph faster through the speed trap than the 2013 cars. That was due to the reduced level of downforce.
Jenson Button stated that the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo could not catch him in the straights but sailed by him in the fast corners.
posted on 6/3/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 6/3/14
I like all the drivers, even Vettel. It takes courage and balls to do what they do and they all deserve respect.
I do not like total domination by any one team which is why I was not pleased with McLaren during the Hakkinen years or RedBull with Vettel as it has to do with technical domination rather than driver ability in Vettel's case.
I'm not a fan of stupid things they all do and lambast them fairly across board.
If I had to put down a list of my faves in no particular order it would be; Alonso, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Rosberg, Button and Kobayashi.
posted on 6/3/14
Jenson Button stated that the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo could not catch him in the straights but sailed by him in the fast corners.
===========
Not again
posted on 6/3/14
Kubica is still my favourite.
posted on 7/3/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 9/3/14
You could argue that Red Bull had the best car from before halfway into 2009, but Vettel's "skill" and "judgement" left them without a championship they should have won. If Vettel feels under pressure this year, and he may, then expect the mistakes he can be prone to, especially if Ricciardo is quick too.
posted on 9/3/14
POB
you could also argue that mclaren and brawn also had the best car from " halfway into 2009 " ,
lets not forget vettel was barely 21 yrs old or whatever in 09 and has gone from strength to strength ever since -
----------- what makes you think that now all of a sudden an all time great as vettel now is will suddenly have a talent bypass 5 yrs on
PS -- have we all missed something then
----------- didnt other drivers make mistakes as they progressed thru f1 or was it just vettel
posted on 9/3/14
""""If I had to put down a list of my faves in no particular order it would be; Alonso, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Rosberg, Button and Kobayashi."""
If I was to put that in alphabetical order it would be this: Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Kobayashi, Raikkonen, and Rosberg.
I am quite happy to admit I would rather see English or British drivers and English cars winning and I see nothing wrong with that. It is strange how the rest of the world considers it has a right to support its own people while the English, and the English alone, have no right to support their own people. There is nothing abnormal, racist, offensive or wrong with us supporting our own. Equally I am annoyed by less talented drivers in effwun motor racing, no matter what their nationality.