(Eric Vargiolu DPP1 for Renault Sport F1)
Red Bull Racing have vowed to continue fighting Mercedes for the 2014 Formula One championship despite a difficult start to the season for the reigning world champions. The Milton Keynes based outfit, who went into 2014 having completed dominated the sport since 2010 have so far only managed to claim one podium finish since the start the season and that came at the hands of Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia when he finished in third place behind the two Mercedes.
Daniel Ricciardo was also left disappointed after he was disqualified from the opening race of the season Down Under in Australia where he finished the race in second place. Despite their tough start to the year, Red Bull currently lie second in the Constructors championship 97 points behind Mercedes.
When we consider where the team were at this stage last season, Sebastian Vettel had two win's and Mark Webber had secured a podium whereas this season the team have struggled with the new regulations and in particular Sebastian Vettel has appeared to have struggled with the set up of the RB10 compared to team mate Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian has finished ahead of Vettel in the last two Grand Prix. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about Mercedes, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said:
'We're going to give it everything. I believe we can take the fight to them, we just can't concede too much more ground.'
Despite the tough start to the 2014 campaign, Horner has been extremely impressed with Daniel Ricciardo's performances alongside Sebastian Vettel which has vindicated their decision to promote the Australian following Mark Webber's retirement from Formula One at the end of last season and his performances in the last two race's against Vettel where he has beaten the German show this.
The team head to the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend where Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finished the event last year in fourth and fifth place respectively. The team will be hoping that they can mount a challenge to the Mercedes duo to make up some ground on the Brackley based outfit who at this stage in the championship appear to be sprinting ahead of the competition.
©Ben Johnston 2014
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