Overview
After four straight driver’s and constructor’s championships, the pressure was always on Red Bull Racing (RBR) to maintain their supremacy in 2014 and push on for five straight titles.
Circumstances haven’t exactly fallen their way though, starting with the sweeping rule changes brought on by the new turbo V6 era. As with any major rules reset, all existing advantages were wiped out and the incumbent pace-setters would come crashing back into the pack as a new force emerged for a season of domination.
In addition, after seven seasons with RBR, Mark Webber decided to retire to sportscars at the end of 2013, leaving the way clear for countryman Daniel Ricciardo to be promoted all the way from midfield Toro Rosso into the big time at the front of the grid. Strangely (or perhaps not, given what we’ve witnessed so far), Ricciardo’s promotion has been the greatest shining light of RBR’s 2014 season.
Whilst the rule changes shook everything up, RBR haven’t had a disaster by any stretch of the imagination. They’ve made Q3 in 18 of 22 attempts and finished in the top 8 every time their cars have crossed the line. More than that, they’ve qualified on the front two rows 12 times and scored 7 podium finishes, including 2 wins. Behind Mercedes, they’ve often been clearly, or fighting for, second best, and occasionally, beaten the Mercs as well.
However, for a team that scored nine straight victories at the end of 2013, and became accustomed to their four years of total domination, to not be setting the pace would always be a disappointment and a step back. While any other team would be happy to sit 2nd in the constructor’s championship at the summer break, RBR would surely want more.
With the drivers near faultless, blame lies squarely at the door of engine supplier Renault. With an under-developed, under-powered unit that has embarrassed all their other teams, Renault have held Red Bull back when the car and drivers are clearly capable of fighting for wins and titles. While RBR have been comparatively lucky and only suffered four retirements, their pace has still suffered, leaving them often second best, and sometimes, third, fourth or fifth best behind Ferrari, Williams and the rest of the midfield.
The drivers, on the other hand, have been superb and almost error-free, indicating that if Renault can find their long-promised gains over the summer, RBR can start pinching wins come the end of the year.
Sebastian Vettel – 88 points / 6th in the Driver’s Championship
Vettel has, quite simply, struggled this year.
On the upside, he’s made perhaps one error (the inconsequential spin in the rain in Hungary), and has therefore maximised his results at every single opportunity. You’d expect nothing less of a four-time world champion.
On the downside, he’s clearly uncomfortable with this year’s car and it evidently does not suit his driving style. This has meant a clear pace deficit to team-mate Ricciardo and a dimished confidence behind the wheel. As such, he’s been beaten in the head-to-head qualifying and race results, and in general, been largely anonymous in both. He hasn’t necessarily failed to deliver; he just hasn’t delivered to the same degree as Ricciardo has.
Two podiums in 11 races don’t do his car justice, and four Q2 knock-outs only compund the statistics.
The real shame is that he’s not getting it wrong. It’s just been a complete misalignment between driver and car, and as such, an absolutely disappointing set of results.
6.5/10 – not the Vettel we know, but not his fault either.
Daniel Ricciardo – 131 points / 3rd in the Driver’s Championship
Ricciardo, by contrast, has excelled, and perhaps been the standout driver of the year. Better than Alonso, better than the Mercedes pilots and head and shoulders above his four-time world champion team-mate.
Some commentators note this with surprise, but for others, it was always on the cards. Regardless of his undoubted talent and ability, the fact that we’ve seen such outstanding and consistent performances so soon upon promotion is what has perhaps surprised people the most.
Ricciardo has barely put a foot wrong, and his only non-scores were team errors. He’s smashed Vettel 7-4 in qualifying and 6-1 in the races, an unbelievable achievement given the calibre of his team-mate and the Vettel-focussed environment he walked into. All of this is even more impressive given his year began with heart-breaking disqualifications and retirements in Australia and Malaysia that were beyond his control.
The strength of his results following on from these disappointments has been impressive. Ricciardo’s ever-positive attitude has won many fans inside and outside the team, and the consistency and quality of his performances on track has seen him outscore his team-mate by 43 points already.
Perhaps the biggest positive though, has been his two wins. Neither win was the product of strategy or luck. Each win came from ballsy, opportunistic overtaking manoeuvres with a handful of laps remaining, where a less determined driver may have banked a solid podium instead. It’s that extra 5%, that x-factor, that has everyone in awe.
9.5/10 – hard to fault and clearly the best driver of the year.
Race Finishing Positions
| AUS | MAL | BHR | CHN | ESP | MON | CAN | AUT | GBR | GER | ||
| Sebastian Vettel | RET | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | RET | 3 | RET | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | DSQ | RET | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
| Sebastian Vettel | Daniel Ricciardo | |
| Qualified ahead | 4 | 7 |
| Average qualifying gap | -0.015s | +0.015s |
| Finished race ahead | 1 | 6 |
| Laps spent ahead | 260 | 267 |
What to expect for the rest of the season
Renault have been promising upgrades for some time now, so if they eventually come to fruition, expect to see RBR challenging Mercedes for wins as the season comes to an end.
The intra-team driver battle should also fascinate. Ricciardo should theoretically pull clear and perhaps land another victory or two. But it’d be surprising if Vettel simply rolled over, so expect the German to come out swinging after the summer break.
