Formula 1: Red Bull’s season finale victory comes with key disadvantage

After a tough and grueling Formula 1 season, it was Red Bull and Max Verstappen who were able to stand on the top step of the final podium of the year, claiming the driver and the team’s second victory of 2020.

They achieved Red Bull’s first and only pole position of the 2020 Formula 1 season and stopped the Mercedes-powered domination in qualifying as well; not a bad weekend for the team. But this success does come with a problem.

The Formula 1 world has become accustomed to Red Bull coming on strong toward the end of each season, but always managing to make it too little too late, to the frustration of many.

Although the team prevented the now standard Mercedes domination at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit, this win puts more pressure on the Milton Keynes-based team than usual heading into the 2021 season.

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For many either involved in or watching Formula 1, they would understand this next point.

Red Bull have a way of providing people with false hope going into a new season, only for Mercedes, usually, to show up in Melbourne, Australia for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and finish a long way ahead of their competition. With Red Bull finally securing a victory in the Abu Dhabi season finale for the first time in the V6 turbo hybrid era, could this lead to more false hope?

Right there is the disadvantage.

Throughout the coming winter months, Red Bull will now be bombarded with questions about 2021 being their year, or at least whether or not they can go the distance with Mercedes. Don’t get this wrong; those sort of questions always find their way to Red Bull, but with little back-up.

Now that is different.

It’s become a thing for the team to talk a lot during the winter break, mainly Helmut Marko. Confidence is definitely something they do not lack. Lead driver Max Verstappen made it abundantly clear after the final race that the team will need to pick up where they left off and finally start a season off on the right foot.

We will now supposedly see how crucial the winning momentum is heading into the break and moving toward a new season, momentum that Red Bull have not had heading into a new season for several years.

With the edited regulations for the 2021 season, leaving Red Bull carrying over only 60% of the 2020 car, who knows what the order will be.

Obviously, nobody will know until testing. But even that can be a diversion. Realistically, testing is just a con, a blind eye if you will. Like normal, the order will be revealed at opening round, which is currently planned to be held in Melbourne like it was in 22 of the last 24 years before the race was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Would it be great to see Red Bull start out on the front foot to give the fight to Mercedes for real? Yes. Would it be a surprise? Well, yes.

Can it actually happen? Of course, but would it be a shock to see Mercedes again start as they wish to continue? Nope.

With what were going to be the 2021 car regulations pushed back to 2022, Red Bull have the pressure of many on them, particularly those who are tired of the Mercedes domination. The fight has to be lively if they want to keep everyone interested for 2022.

With that being said, of course there will be some unhappy with the outcome of the upcoming season but still very interested in the 2022 season. But believe this: another year of the same, and some will not.

Red Bull believe they can thrive under pressure and this will be the best test of them all. However, there could be other alternatives for the sanity of Formula 1.

Let’s be honest; Ferrari should not take too long to get back to fighting at the front. The 2020 season was a very, very odd season for the famous Maranello-based team, their worst since 1980, in fact. Their motivation should be higher than ever, and with a lineup of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr., they can only go forward.

Are you ready for this one? Hope can be placed onto McLaren as well. With them having secured third place in this year’s constructor standings, their highest finish since 2012, and the acquisition of Daniel Riccardo alongside Lando Norris for next year, they also can only go forward.

Oh, and having Mercedes power in their boot will help their cause, of course. But, similarly to Red Bull, due to them ending the season on the front foot, questions will be asked throughout the break. Can they really gain access into the luxury fight for the win? Time will tell.