Red Bull handed 'figure it out' verdict after dismal start to F1 season

Jolyon Palmer believes Red Bull's vast resources will eventually see the team overcome Haas and Alpine in the constructors' championship battle, despite its troubled start to the season.

The Milton Keynes-based squad currently sits sixth in the standings with 16 points, level with Alpine and two behind Haas after three rounds.

The unexpected cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix has created an unprecedented month-long break in the early season schedule, prompting questions about which teams might benefit most from the extended development window.

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast alongside James Hinchcliffe, Palmer was asked whether Alpine and Haas could have done with the two postponed rounds before Red Bull ultimately hits its stride.

The former Renault driver suggested the enforced break could prove decisive in the six-time constructors' champion's favour, despite its current struggles.

"With the resource that Red Bull have got, you don't want to give them a month to pore through data, work on the car, bring new parts," Palmer said.

"I know they've had a lot of people leave, and we did the whole podcast special about GP [Lambiase] and the Exodus [but] they've still got it; there's a huge amount of resource there, and you do feel like that has to come out on top when it starts ticking over, over Haas and over Alpine."

Hinchcliffe had earlier highlighted how both Haas and Alpine have capitalised on Red Bull's early-season woes, with the American team particularly impressive in maximising their opportunities.

The discussion centred on whether these teams could maintain their advantage or if Red Bull's traditional strengths would eventually surface.

Palmer acknowledged Alpine's planned upgrade strategy, with significant developments expected at Miami, but questioned whether it would be enough to hold off Red Bull long-term.

"Alpine said at the start of the year that they're going to bring big upgrades at set intervals," he noted. "I believe one is Miami as well, so not quite as front-loaded as Haas, maybe, but they're playing the long game this year.

"Maybe they can keep fighting Red Bull for the moment, but you just feel that as soon as Red Bull figure it out, they've got the baseline to be much quicker than they've shown."

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