Webber: Red Bull will be strong in 2017

Mark Webber believes Red Bull has a good chance of ending Mercedes’ dominance at the top of Formula 1 this season.

Webber’s former team finished last year second in the constructors’ championship, nearly 300 points behind Mercedes, but Webber believes the Milton Keynes squad was the better team throughout the season, putting them in a good position for the start of 2017.

“Mercedes have had the luxury of closing out the constructors’ championship very early last year, so that gives you a big chance to put your resources into the next year’s programme earlier than anyone else, potentially,” Webber said.

“They have a very good engine, we know that’s their main strength.

“Operationally, Red Bull were the best team last year. With reliability they were the best team, Mercedes had a few technical challenges.

“So if it’s nip and tuck when down to the fine points, Red Bull are very good at that.”

The new regulations which are set to be introduced this season are the key to Red Bull closing the gap to Mercedes. The team’s chief technical officer, Adrian Newey, will be one of the stars of 2017, according to Webber, if he has found the best answer to the regulations over the winter break.

“I think Red Bull have had a quiet winter and they’re going to be quite strong,” he said.

“It really depends on who unlocks these new regulations. Traditionally, Adrian has been very good at that.”

On track, Webber expects another close battle between Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, but he thinks his fellow Australian to be Red Bull’s 2017 star. Ricciardo’s experience of rule changes and his composure will give him an advantage over team-mate Verstappen this year.

“I think Daniel still has more composure. Obviously that experience will be very useful for him, particularly in the early part of the championship.

“When you’ve seen more regulation [changes], like he has done, driven different types of cars, that’s an advantage for him.

“It’s going to be a good battle there, but the composure side is a big plus for Daniel. He’s got plenty of fire too, but it’s all about putting the weekends together. Max is still learning, with that unbelievable talent.”