Red Bull make 'off the charts' F1 prediction

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has predicted interest in F1 will be “off the charts” at the season-opening round in Australia.

Pre-season preparations concluded this week in Bahrain, with teams now poring over their data to get into the best possible shape for Melbourne.

The regulations have undergone a major change this year, with the cars offering a brand new challenge to the drivers.

With the first event of the campaign less than two weeks away, Mekies has suggested the profound changes will draw considerable interest for the new season.

“For the sport as a whole, the three sessions across Barcelona and Bahrain have been fascinating from so many different perspectives,” he said.

“The PU technology, the fuel, the aero, different tyre sizes and, as always at the heart of it all, the drivers leading the narrative as to what these cars are like on track. 

“I believe interest in F1 by the time we get to Melbourne will be off the charts.”

Red Bull has been catching the attention of rival teams throughout testing, showing promising pace with its power unit.

However, Mekies asserted there is no way of knowing how the pecking order is stacking up until the cars hit the track in Melbourne.

“Performance? Even with all our technology and simulation tools, everyone will only start to get a partial idea of the pecking order down the pit lane after Saturday’s qualifying session in Albert Park,” he said.

“Next, we go racing. We know we have a lot of very hard work ahead of us to be at the level we want to be. 

“That’s our next mountain to climb, and all of us will be climbing it together as one team”.