Verstappen has continued to display impressive form on the track this season and has already secured the 2023 F1 World Championship, adding to his titles from 2021 and 2022.

Ben Sulayem emphasised that penalising a driver or team for their dominance would be neither fair nor right, drawing comparisons to previous dominant eras in Formula 1. 

He stated, “It (F1 domination) has happened so many times – just look at [Lewis] Hamilton and [Michael] Schumacher. It’s a bit harsh and not right to punish success.”

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While acknowledging the current dominance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull, Ben Sulayem expressed his openness to suggestions for ensuring fairness and democracy in the sport without penalising successful teams or drivers. 

He made it clear that the FIA has no plans to penalise success, even if it results in one driver’s dominance, as it has happened twice before during his tenure.

Verstappen clinched his first world title in dramatic fashion in 2022, narrowly edging out Lewis Hamilton in the final race of the season. 

His second title in 2023, however, came with a display of sheer dominance as he won 15 out of the 22 Grands Prix. 

In most races, Verstappen has proven to be unbeatable, crossing the chequered flag in first position in 14 of the 17 races.

This recent period of dominance for Verstappen and Red Bull coincided with regulatory changes at the end of the 2021 season, requiring teams to redesign their cars. 

The Red Bull engineering team has excelled in this environment, delivering a vehicle that provides Verstappen and his teammate, Sergio Perez, with a competitive edge over their rivals. 

Despite the absence of further rule tweaks, Verstappen’s dominance shows no signs of wavering.

Max Verstappen clinched the 2023 F1 World Championship earlier this month after securing second place in the Qatar Sprint race, the day before the Grand Prix. 

This unique situation allowed Verstappen to celebrate a championship win before the main event of the weekend had even taken place.

Reflecting on his third consecutive championship, Verstappen expressed his satisfaction with this year’s performance, deeming it the best year of his career. 

He explained, “The first one was the most emotional – that’s when your dreams are fulfilled. This has been my best year. 

“Sometimes I am not happy with the performance or how the weekend was going, but I always try to be perfect. 

READ: Nico Rosberg blasts Lewis Hamilton’s ‘miscalculation’

“I always try to be better every race weekend I go to. 

“I analyse my performance race after race, and the same this year. 

“That’s why I think this year performance-wise is definitely the best one.”

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As Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secures his third consecutive world championship title with a dominant win at the Qatar Grand Prix, Sergio Perez’s struggles become increasingly evident, prompting concerns within the team.

In the recent Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen showcased his prowess once again, clinching his 14th victory in 17 races this season. 

However, his teammate, Sergio Perez, had a challenging weekend, finishing a distant 10th, over 80 seconds behind Verstappen, and incurring three five-second time penalties.

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Describing Perez’s performance as “horrible,” Horner pointed out that the Mexican driver now trails Verstappen by a substantial 208 points in the championship standings. 

He remarked, “I think with a car like we have, he’s probably putting that pressure on himself.” 

Horner emphasised the team’s primary goal of securing both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, a feat they have already achieved this season.

Horner went on to express the desire to see both Red Bull drivers finishing at the top, as is the case with rival teams like Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari. 

He noted, “You can see Mercedes have a pair, McLaren have a pair, Ferrari have a pair that are quite tight between the respective drivers.” 

While Red Bull enjoyed a similar situation earlier in the season, it has become more variable as the year progressed.

The team principal stressed the urgency of getting Sergio Perez back to his best form, acknowledging the tightening competition from other teams. 

Perez is contracted with Red Bull until 2024, and Horner emphasised that his performance must improve to ensure Red Bull maintains its competitive edge. 

Horner remarked, “The frustration is that we know what Checo has been capable of doing.”

READ: Lance Stroll warned his trainer is plotting ‘revenge’

He also acknowledged Perez’s significant contributions to the constructors’ championship in the past two seasons and the team’s reliance on his performance.

Horner concluded by highlighting the potential consequences of a significant performance gap between Red Bull’s drivers, especially as Formula 1’s grid is expected to become even more closely contested in the coming year. 

He stated, “We can’t afford to have a big split because if, as you would expect, the grid continues to concertina next year, we need both drivers delivering at the top of the game.”

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In a race that saw Carlos Sainz of Ferrari secure the first non-Red Bull victory of the season, Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, reflected on the issues that surfaced during the weekend.

Horner emphasised that the primary issue Red Bull encountered in Singapore was related to the car’s set-up. 

He stated after the race, “I think we have got a much clearer understanding, which is primarily a set-up problem.” 

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This setback prompted a reevaluation of their approach and valuable lessons for the development of their 2024 car.

Addressing the team’s simulation and preparation for the Singapore Grand Prix, Horner admitted that the initial analysis didn’t yield the expected results. 

He explained, “I think that maybe our simulation before the weekend didn’t lead us to the right conclusion. 

“Then you have to sort of unravel your way out of that. 

“I think we just ended up in the wrong window and it exposed some of our weaknesses that the car has.”

Despite the difficulties faced in Singapore, Horner viewed this experience as a valuable lesson for the future. 

He expressed optimism about addressing the issues revealed during the race when developing the RB20, Red Bull’s car for the 2024 season. 

“But it has actually been a very useful lesson for next year because it gives us some very useful insight and certain things that hopefully we can address in our RB20,” Horner added.

In response to speculations that changes in regulations related to flexi-wings and floors had affected Red Bull’s performance, Horner dismissed such claims, emphasising the complexity of engineering in Formula 1. 

He stated firmly, “It’s all engineering stuff. 

“There’s no silver bullets in this business. 

“I know all of you would love to blame the TD, but unfortunately we can’t even blame that because it’s not changed a single component on our car.”

Horner clarified that Red Bull had not been forced to alter any of their car components, responding with a definitive “No. Zero” when questioned about changes. 

He reiterated the team’s commitment to addressing their issues internally and through strategic development.

READ: Aston Martin address Lance Stroll’s horror crash

Furthermore, Horner drew parallels with Mercedes’ own struggles in Singapore during their dominant periods in Formula 1. 

He pointed out the high level of technology and competition in the sport, acknowledging that even dominant teams occasionally face challenges at specific circuits. 

“Occasionally, to have a car that’s competitive across every single venue, in every condition, on every compound of tire, is a hell of a challenge,” Horner noted.

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Although Tsunoda struggled against Pierre Gasly in his first two seasons in F1, he has greatly improved his form in 2023.

Tsunoda has dominated fellow AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries, beating him in every race except one.

Red Bull’s driver Sergio Perez has seen a recent downturn in form and his contract with the team expires in 2024.

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Carlin commented on Yuki: “Unfortunately, his improvement in pace has coincided with the deterioration of the speed of AlphaTauri so he’s got better as the car’s got worse.”

Carlin believes that Yuki is being underserved by AlphaTauri and would thrive in the Red Bull team.

He believes Tsunoda’s personality is a reason he would be a great fit, saying: “Yuki is the kind of guy that would relish the opportunity and he’d be fully committed.”

“God knows what would happen but he’d be entertaining, go flat out and he might surprise a few people. I’d love to see Yuki do it.”

AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost agrees with Carlin’s assessment of Yuki, saying that the Japanese driver could be ready for a promotion soon.

Tost also envisions Yuki taking over the reins from Perez and becoming Verstappen’s teammate.

Tost agrees with Carlin’s criticism of AlphaTauri and the competitiveness of their cars.

Talking about Yuki, the AlphaTauri boss says: “I am very happy with him. It’s not his fault that we aren’t competitive yet.”

“As far as I know, Sergio Perez still has a contract for next year. All I can say is that Yuki is on the right track. He has improved in every respect. In 2025, I think he will finally be ready for Red Bull.”

Not everyone is so certain about the young Japanese racer’s place on the Red Bull team.

READ: Helmut Marko suggests Red Bull would be better off signing Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso

Red Bull chief Christian Horner said: “I don’t think he’s at our level yet but he’s making great progress and we’re seeing he’s maturing as a driver.”

Horner continued: “We’re not short of options for the team but we have a commitment with both of our drivers.”

“The best thing he can do is perform at a very high level in the AlphaTauri.”

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AlphaTauri team principal, Franz Tost, is leaving at the end of the year, and there are plenty of prospective drivers looking to make the AlphaTauri team.

Liam Lawson is currently leading the pack, ahead of F2 incumbents Jak Crawford, Zane Maloney, Ayuma Iwasa, Isack Hadjar, Dennis Haugar, and Enzo Fittipalda.

The Australian driver has expressed his desire to return to F1 full-time next year, having acted as Red Bull’s third driver in the 2023 season.

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Questioned about Ricciardo’s status going into 2024, Tost said: “The philosophy is quite clear – performance decides.

“Of course, the team philosophy is to educate young drivers but if young drivers are not currently there…”

Ricciardo is 34, which some have noted as a potential issue – given AlphaTauri’s penchant for nurturing and promoting young drivers. 

The Austrian team principal seemed to hint that Ricciardo would be welcome if AlphaTauri’s current roster of young players weren’t deemed ready for F1.

He commented: “Some good young drivers are coming – Iwasa is doing a good job; Hadjar is doing a good job, but it’s simply a little bit too early for them. I see them later in our team.”

“If the time is too early then maybe we have to find another solution, but this has not been discussed so far.”

Of the youngsters at AlphaTauri, Lawson seems the most likely option, having spent two years in F2 and winning two of five races in Japan’s Super Formula to rank second in overall standings there.

Tost acknowledged this performance, saying “Liam did a good job when he drove for us last year in Abu Dhabi (in the young driver test).”

“He is currently doing a good job in Japan because it’s quite a tough championship over there.”

READ: Daniel Ricciardo lurks: Helmut Marko admits Red Bull are considering firing Sergio Perez

The Austrian principal still refused to rule Ricciardo out, saying: “He’s obviously a world-class driver. He’s won seven grands prix in his career to date (eight, seven with Red Bull).”

“The first thing would be to see how he performs and where his motivation is.”

“From there, it’s a question for AlphaTauri as to their choices for the following season.”

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The charity supports spinal cord injury and holds the ‘Wing for Life World Run’ every year.

The event attracts millions of people stretching far and wide, raising over 40 million euros since it began in 2014.

Anyone looking to bid for the race suit can do so via the F1 authentic website with the current bid set at £6,300.

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Max Verstappen will sell the race-winning suit worn at the Canadian Gran Prix – a particularly significant piece of attire as Verstappen equalled the record of F1 great Ayrton Senna, matching his tally of 41 race wins.

It was a routine win for the Dutchman in Montreal, leading the race from pole in another commanding drive.

Verstappen was joined by two other world champions on the podium, as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton came in second and third respectively.

Red Bull have dominated proceedings thus far this season claiming eight victories from a possible eight with Verstappen registering six of these wins.

The Dutchman has extended his lead over teammate Sergio Perez to 69 points as he continues his push toward a third consecutive world title.

For Perez, however, the chances of winning his first world title look ever slimmer.

READ: Daniel Ricciardo to drive RB19 as Red Bull ‘evaluate’ signing him for 2024

The Mexican is enduring a rough patch of form that has seen members of the Red Bull hierarchy question his standing.

Perez retains his position of second in the drivers standings but has a two-time world champion in Fernando Alonso breathing down his neck.

The gap between second and third has been reduced to just 9 points and if the form of Alonso is anything to go by then Perez must perform at the top of his game to avoid upset.

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The Australian has been in search of a seat for the 2024 season after losing his place at McLaren to debutant and fellow countryman Oscar Piastri.

Ricciardo is a fan favourite in the sport and has 8 race wins to his name so a return to track will induce excitement.

The 2023 season has seen Ricciardo settle for a reserve seat at Red Bull, but the recent form of Sergio Perez has raised questions over the Mexican’s future in the sport.

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Perez was off to a flying start at the beginning of the season, winning in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, prompting debate over his title chances against the reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

Such debate has since wavered, and Perez has been on a poor run of form in his last three races, particularly struggling in qualifying.

Matters are made worse as the Mexican finds himself in the fastest car on the grid with Verstappen charging to first place in every race since Perez last won in Azerbaijan.

Perez, however, still sits second in the driver’s championship with 126 points, but trails his teammate by 69 points.

Helmut Marko suggests Sergio Perez is out of time

Helmut Marko has delivered a scathing review of the Mexican’s recent form, casting doubt over his future at Red Bull.

READ: Daniel Ricciardo to drive RB19 as Red Bull ‘evaluate’ signing him for 2024

Marko suggested that Perez’s goal at Red Bull was to “stay for two or three years” suggesting a world title was never really a possibility.

In addition, Marko said that the team were keeping their options open regarding a replacement for Perez.

“His initial goal was to stay for two or three years, that would be more than he planned, so we just have to keep the options open to decide who will be his successor,” Marko stated.

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He pointed out that Lewis Hamilton seemed immovable in 2021, having won seven Championships with Mercedes.

However, his son beat Hamilton at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, marking a serious change at the top of the Driver’s Standings in the following years.

The Dutchman has dominated this season in particular, currently sitting on 196 points in comparison to Hamilton’s tally of 102.

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Jos implied this was not just due to his son’s skills but the car which he races, saying that Mercedes cannot keep up with Red Bull’s RB19.

Jos went on to say that the same thing could happen to his son if Red Bull does not continue to produce title-winning cars in the future.

He said that Verstappen’s era of domination may be shorter-lived than Hamilton’s glorious reign with the Silver Arrows from 2014-2020 if Red Bull becomes complacent.

Looking back to 2021, Jos told media sources: “Initially we would have been satisfied with winning a GP.”

He continued: “Everything happened quickly, because in recent seasons Max has had a good car and is winning a lot, as Lewis Hamilton had managed to do in previous years.”

Jos emphasised pride in his son’s achievements, with Max recently having equalled the legendary Ayrton Senna’s tally of 41 victories.

READ: Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton ready to break Red Bull’s win streak

As for the Verstappen-Senna comparison, Jos did rein it in, saying: “I’m not making comparisons, I’m not saying they’re on the same level.”

“Max is special and it’s nice as a father to watch his exploits. I’m proud and happy”.

Speaking about his son, Jos commented: “He’s not a guy who cares about numbers or records. He only cares about racing, and he knows he can win for a long time, if he has a car to prove it.”

Lewis Hamilton remains the world record holder for most wins (103), pole positions (103), and podium finishes (194), despite his displacement by Verstappen.

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However, Helmut Marko has pointed out that success doesn’t ensure a driver will remain in the seat, using the famous case of German driver Nico Rosberg as evidence.

Rosberg quit in 2016, following a long, tiring title battle with his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, which resulted in his victory.

However, Mercedes were shocked when Rosberg immediately retired following this successful campaign, with the German driver citing family reasons for his decision to depart.

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Marko may be concerned as Verstappen previously commented that he is in F1 for “a good time, not a long time,” and also vocalised concerns about the direction in which the sport is heading.

His criticisms of F1 include the clustered and ever-growing race calendar, the addition of Sprint races (which he considers gimmicky), and the personal pressures placed on drivers.

The Dutch driver’s contract with Red Bull elapses in 2028 and there is every likelihood that Verstappen could abruptly quit.

Marko told media sources that: “I’m aware of it, he won’t go forever. But I hope that he doesn’t do it like Nico and just saying it after a bad year. Give us some warning, at least, so we can react on it! But I’m aware that it will come.”

When Nico Rosberg prematurely left Mercedes in 2016, the team was left scrambling to find a suitable replacement – eventually settling on Valtteri Bottas, who didn’t achieve the same levels of success as his predecessor.

READ: Daniel Ricciardo hails Red Bull chief amid Max Verstappen’s dominance

Marko has acknowledged that the F1 schedule is unrelenting and can lead to racer burnout, and believes that Verstappen would certainly still have a racing career when he does retire.

The Red Bull team adviser commented: “He won’t stop racing completely. I think Le Mans and things like that where he’s just going to have fun and enjoy it, he will still do this sort of racing.”

Verstappen has indeed expressed particular interest in endurance series such as the World Endurance Championship, citing the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours as a particular target.

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The duo were not the only ones to make alterations, with the Alfa Romeo, Haas, and AlphaTauri teams doing the same thing.

The 2023 Austrian Grand Prix will take place over 71 laps on the 4-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg this Sunday.

Ferrari fitted Charles Leclerc’s SF-23 with a fresh turbocharger, MGU-H, and exhaust system.

The same alterations have been made for his teammate Carlos Sainz.

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Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has had his RB-19 kitted out with a new control electronics and energy store, using the second of each component.

However, these alterations did not trigger any grid penalties as the new parts are within regulations.

Verstappen is looking to secure a fifth straight win on Sunday – and extend his lead at the head of the Driver’s Standings, where he now sits on 196 points.

Alfa Romeo and Haas have also adopted a similar tactic for this Sprint weekend, choosing to add new internal combustion engines, turbos, and exhausts.

The two Haas drivers – Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg – have also elected to use MGU-H’s, a heat energy recovery system.

AlphaTauri has joined the party in making alterations for the tough circuit that the Austrian Grand Prix will present.

Yuki Tsunoda and Valtteri Bottas will be newly equipped with fresh energy stores and new electronic controls.

These changes may be seen as necessary by the teams, due to the challenges that Sprint weekends entail, where emphasis is placed on power above all else.

READ: Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton ready to break Red Bull’s win streak

Grid penalties are decided upon by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), with its allotment rules designed to save money and keep changes to a minimum.

The price of a grid penalty can be very harsh – Leclerc was docked down 10 grid positions below where he qualified for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix earlier this year.

This penalty occurred after Leclerc used more than two of his allotted control electronics units for the season, after a pair of failures in Bahrain forced Ferrari to give his car its third.

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