Vienna, June 28 (BNA): Red Bull are gearing up for their homecoming party as they celebrate 100 wins in Formula One with a huge crowd at the first Austrian Grand Prix since the death of billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz last October.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s speedy leader and winner of six of his eight races so far this season as he heads for his third consecutive championship, will be the favorite to claim the 101st at Spielberg on Sunday, according to Reuters.
The 25-year-old Dutchman could become the most successful driver in Austrian Grand Prix history if he wins for the fourth time, one more than the record he shares with French great Alain Prost.
Verstappen has already racked up four victories at the scenic circuit, having also won the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix.
Austria is the second sprint of the season, and it’s a chance for Verstappen to extend his whopping 69-point lead Teammate Sergio Pérez, who has not appeared on the podium in the past three races.
Verstappen won the sprint in Austria last year, but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc prevailed on Sunday with his Dutch rival in second place, and Perez failed to finish after colliding on the first lap with Mercedes’ George Russell.
Ferrari have only had one podium so far this season, in a fast weekend in Baku when Leclerc finished third on Sunday, and he hasn’t won since Austria last July. Of the 19 races since then, Red Bull has won 18 and Mercedes has won one.
Mercedes is aiming to build up momentum, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton sitting third in Canada and the car expected to perform even better in Austria.
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