Fittipaldi: Red Bull up above everyone

Harry Sadoun Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

With the 2023 F1 season set to start this weekend, we got in touch with two-time Formula 1 World Champion, Emerson Fittipaldi.

The motor racing legend shared his observations from pre-season testing and how he sees things play out for Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren. He also shared which team, in his opinion, could see a feisty driver battle.

Red Bull are way ahead of everyone else

Max Verstappen and Red Bull were blisteringly quick in testing and Fittipaldi is of the opinion that no team is close to them.

"To me, Red Bull are standing way up above everyone, when I look at the cars."

"The way the car behaves, the downforce, the grip. When you have that grip and downforce, you deteriorate the tires less. That makes the package even more competitive.”

At the same time, the Brazilian thinks that we have to reserve our judgements until qualifying as teams could deliberately be underperforming during testing.

"I think we should see qualifying in the first race and see if there are any surprises there. People probably are not showing full performance in testing. There could be much better performances this weekend."

“You can always have a surprise, like we did last year. Teams that are not performing well, can perform well."

Mercedes’ policy with the drivers is a good one

A driver battle to watch out for in this season will be Lewis Hamilton against his teammate, George Russell.

Russell, in his first season as a Mercedes driver, outperformed seven-time World Champion Hamilton, finishing fourth in the drivers standings.

Fittipaldi praised Mercedes’ policy where they allow the drivers to go toe-to-toe rather than resorting to team orders. He also said that both of them will be tough competitors to each other, very much like Charles LeClerc and Carlos Sainz are.

"I think Mercedes' situation, they let the drivers fight each other. I think that's a good policy."

"George was more consistent at the beginning of last season and then Lewis came back."

"The talent and experience of Lewis is there. No doubts about that. He has a gift and the talent, and putting it together, it will be tough for both."

"It will be interesting and it is similar to the situation of Charles LeClerc and Carlos Sainz. I think that is also interesting to keep track of."

The F1 legend added that the only time Mercedes will change their policy with the drivers is in the later stages of the season, when the Championship points will become even more crucial.

"At that level, Mercedes will not give any advantage to either driver until the championship points start accumulating in the year. At one point, they'll have to make the decision of putting 100 percent effort behind Lewis or behind George. Depends on who's where. That can happen. It can happen easily in that situation."

Alpine is where we can see a driver dispute

With Alpine fielding an all-French driver combo, Fittipaldi cannot wait to see them in action. In his opinion, this is the team where we can see driver friction.

“Can you imagine a French team with two French drivers? I would like to watch that and understand their conversation (laughs).” 

“I think it will be a big challenge and these will be the two drivers in dispute. In my opinion it's going to be amazing to see both drivers fight each other and the team manager communicating with them - “Calme-toi. Arrêtez, arrêtez! Attention, attention ! Attention mon- mon garçon, mon pilote”

“There will be a lot of action for sure.”

If you want to place a safe, legal bet on F1 racing, try PointsBet!

Photo by Paolo Bendandi

Harry Sadoun

Harry Sadoun is a seasoned sports betting expert with a wealth of experience in the iGaming and sports betting industry. Over the past 5 years, he has established himself as a go-to source for insightful analysis and predictions at Vegasinsider. With a passion for sports, Harry specializes in football, basketball, tennis, rugby, and soccer, showcasing a diverse understanding of athletic competitions. Harry's unique approach to sports betting is rooted in a combination of statistical analysis, in-depth research, and a keen understanding of the dynamics that influence game outcomes. His expert opinions and strategic insights have made him a trusted voice in the industry, guiding both novice and seasoned bettors alike. With an unwavering commitment to delivering accurate and up-to-date information, Harry Sadoun continues to be a prominent figure in the world of sports betting, providing enthusiasts with the tools they need to make informed decisions. More from Harry Sadoun