Mercedes Red Bull desert duel "a sign of what's to come this year" - Toto Wolff

Lewis Hamilton battling with Max Verstappen in Bahrain — Photo: © LAT Images

Mercedes - Red Bull

Mercedes Red Bull desert duel "a sign of what's to come this year" - Wolff

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen served up a classic end in Bahrain

GPFans Staff

Thursday 15 April 2021 05:04

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes the desert duel in Bahrain between Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen has served as a lively appetiser to a feast of a battle between the two drivers and teams this Formula 1 season.

Red Bull has hit the ground running with its RB16B, in contrast to Mercedes with its W12 after encountering issues with the new aerodynamic regulations that have affected the low-rake philosophy of its car.

Yet while Verstappen comfortably took pole position in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, it was Mercedes and Hamilton that emerged as race winners following a perfectly executed strategy.

Wolff is certainly envisaging more of the same over the remaining 22 races.

"The 2021 F1 season certainly began in spectacular style," said Wolff.

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"It was an encouraging first race, coming away from Bahrain with a double podium, and hopefully the duel in the desert between us and Red Bull is a sign of what's to come this year. "We may have won the first round, but we're under no illusions that this will be a straightforward season.

"The car is still lacking pace over a single lap and Red Bull appear to have the edge right now. We're pushing hard to close the gap, and this is a challenge we relish."

Next up is this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, venue in November for Mercedes clinching its seventh consecutive constructors' championship following a Hamilton victory.

But as in Bahrain, Red Bull should again have the advantage, and at a circuit that yielded just six overtakes in last year's race, Wolff appreciates Mercedes' focus will be over the one lap on Saturday. "Imola is such a historic and iconic venue, and it's a track the drivers really enjoy, with its sweeping nature, high speeds and variety of corner types," added Wolff.

"It's quite a narrow track, which makes overtaking more difficult, but this puts more focus on strategy and makes qualifying even more crucial."