Red Bull - The African Mirror

Jun

2021

Red Bull dominate French GP

BOITUMELO RANTAO RED Bull driver Max Verstappen won a fantastic French Grand Prix - passing reigning championship winner Lewis Hamilton of the penultimate lap at the Paul Ricard Circuit. Verstappen, who was aided by an exquisite team strategy, found himself making two stops where the rest of the field stuck to the premeditated one-stop strategy. Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez, fresh off his maiden Red Bull win, executed the one-stop strategy to perfection gaining a place on Mercedes' Valterri Bottas. The race in Le Castallet was Red Bull's first double-podium in over two years and the first time Red Bull has…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Verstappen’s first Italian glory

SPORT

RED Bull’s Max Verstappen finally has his podium moment in Italy. Verstappen provided an exhibition of world class driving and defending against champion Lewis Hamilton who provided a lesson in patience and focus in a drama filled at the Emilia Romagna F1 race. The Imola circuit produced a belter of a race, aided by pouring rain 10 minutes before lights out, teams were forced to change strategies. Verstappen, who started third on the grid, struck like lightning to overtake both Hamilton, who started in pole and teammate Sergio Perez in the first corner to take the lead. He drove impeccably,…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Electric Imola qualifying

SPORT

DEFENDING World champion Lewis Hamilton stormed through the final qualifying session claiming his 99th pole position of his illustrious career. Hamilton laid down a tough marker in the opening runs of the qualifying shootout with a provisional pole time of 1:14.411. Hamilton failed to improve on his final run, but the benchmark he set would be enough. Red Bull driver Sergio Perez put together a blistering final run in Q3 to qualify in second for his first-ever front row start. Perez qualified ahead of teammate Max Verstappen, who was out-qualified by a team mate for the first time since Malaysia…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

It’s all systems go for Perez and Red Bull

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO MAN met the machine. The machine was both powerful and colourful. The acquaintances took a few laps and the man pronounced himself ready for probably the biggest challenge of his Formula One career. After his dramatic move to Red Bull, a stunt that shocked F1 fans and saved his career, Sergio Perez finally got behind the wheel of the red, yellow and blue car. And while Perez will race for Red Bull in the newly-built 2021 car, he had to use the 2018 car, one that was driven by the man he replaced - Alex Albon - to…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Lewis Hamilton’s drama-filled home win

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER WORLD champion Lewis Hamilton won a drama-filled home F1 British Grand Prix race on three tyres after he experienced a spectacular blow out of his left front, half way through the last lap. Hamilton, who led from pole, brought the car home on a wing and a prayer, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, on fresh tyres, breathing down his neck. Verstappen came within six seconds of snatching victory from Hamilton. Tyre strategy by the teams and management by the drivers, was at the heart of the Silverstone race, with Hamilton, teammate Valterri Bottas and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz…