Rivalry Between Teams Like Red Bull Mercedes Is Only Way To Progress Says Villeneuve

Tuesday, 12 December 2023 at 03:00

Jacques Villeneuve explained why the rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes Formula One teams is crucial for the teams and the sport.

One of the biggest rivalries we know in Formula One today formed between Red Bull Racing and Mercedes team over a couple of years, but mainly in 2021.

It was in 2021 when these two teams found themselves very equally matched in the battle for the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.

While the teams are not as closely matched today, with Red Bull dominating the sport, the rivalry is still there as Mercedes wants to get back on top as soon as possible.

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Asked whether team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner with their teams need rivalry to bring out the best in them, F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve said:

"That’s the only way you can progress. Without the rivalry, you go backward. In the past, Mercedes were winning easily, and it is costly today because it took them way too long to react to last year’s car problem."

Mercedes consecutively won seven Drivers' and eight Constructors' Championships and the team was used to having no big rival until Red Bull came in 2021.

Villeneuve suggests Mercedes would be in a better position today had they had an equally matched rival for a longer period of time.

"They spent so many years where it didn’t matter if the car was perfect or not, they had all the horsepower behind them. That’s why [Toto’s] right, you need that rivalry."

Moreover, the F1 World Champion attributes Max Verstappen's success with Red Bull to driving every single race as if it still was for the Championship even five races after already having achieved the title.

"That’s why Red Bull is still at the top, because Max is fighting still as if it was for the championship. If he had given up four races ago, they would be slower next year."