Martin Brundle anticipates an exceptional 18-month period of racing for Formula 1.
The Red Bull may no longer be the “fastest car”, but with that playing a part in creating a sixth different winner for this season at Silverstone, Martin Brundle believes F1 is in for a “truly epic 18 months of racing”.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull are facing challenges this season after their remarkable dominance in last year’s championship, where they achieved record-breaking accomplishments such as the highest number of wins, the largest winning margin, and an impressive 10-race victory streak.
Martin Brundle’s verdict as McLaren and Mercedes close in on Red Bull
The Dutchman’s recent defeats in Austria and Silverstone were significant because they were his first back-to-back losses since 2022, when he also faced defeat in the British and Austrian races of that year.
In total Verstappen has lost five Grands Prix this season, but as they were all won by different drivers, he is not only holding onto P1 in the Drivers’ standings but has managed to extend his advantage to 84 points over Lando Norris.
Red Bull is currently facing increased pressure in the Constructors’ Championship as they hold a 71-point lead over Ferrari, with McLaren trailing behind by an additional seven points.
However, Red Bull needs to be vigilant of the Woking team, as they have significantly reduced their deficit from 115 points following Norris’ triumph in Miami to just 78 points today.
According to Brundle, Red Bull’s RB20 is no longer considered the top choice among the competitors.
Verstappen qualified P4 with a broken floor for the British Grand Prix before crossing the line in second place in a Red Bull, which Brundle wrote in his Sky column, “no longer looks the fastest car, and from time to time a bit of a handful, given the improvements from McLaren and Mercedes.”
The important numbers after the British Grand Prix
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The updated Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings after the British Grand Prix
Martin Brundle predicts a ‘truly epic 18 months’ of F1 racing
Verstappen encountered difficulties during the initial laps of the British Grand Prix as his RB20 suffered from graining. Additionally, when the rain started pouring, his car became quite challenging to handle on the slippery tires.
Despite initially appearing to have P5 as his best chance, he ultimately made a comeback in the final stint on dry track with hard tyres, seizing second place from Norris.
According to Brundle, Verstappen initially struggled with his Red Bull’s performance on dry conditions and believed he would only achieve a fifth or sixth place. However, he persevered, collaborated effectively with his engineer, and skillfully utilized his new hard compound tires to chase after Norris and Hamilton towards the end of the race.
With ease, he swiftly overcame Norris, who was grappling with maintaining balance on the soft tires. As the chequered flag waved on lap 52, the crowd erupted in a joyous response as he closed in on Hamilton, trailing by a mere second-and-a-half.
Max was not the fourth driver who believed he should have emerged victorious in the race. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised by securing second place, which further strengthened his championship lead by a substantial 84 points.
Lewis Hamilton, the fourth driver, observed the race unfold as George Russell, followed by Oscar Piastri and later Lando Norris, took the lead.
But taking the lead after the second round of pit stops, the Briton raced to his ninth Silverstone win, 150th Mercedes podium and in doing so became the sixth different winner of the championship.
Brundle continued by stating that the fourth driver, who had the potential to win, ultimately achieved victory with great flair.
Hamilton’s tire management was impeccable in the last 14 laps, allowing him to successfully fend off his long-standing rival and secure his ninth triumph at Silverstone. This remarkable achievement comes 17 years after his initial Formula 1 victory, bringing his total wins to an impressive 104 and podium finishes to 199 throughout his career.
In addition, he emerged as the sixth victor among the 12 races conducted this season. In contrast, we witnessed merely three winners throughout the entirety of the previous season. With this in mind, I am confident that we are about to witness an exceptionally thrilling 18 months of F1 racing, leading up to the introduction of the all-new 2026 cars.
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