Former Toro Rosso owner Gerhard Berger has said that Red Bull Racing will triumph in the 2010 championship fight, saying that the team could be set for a long run of success thanks to technical chief Adrian Newey.
Berger also took the time to claim he had advised Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz to sign Newey for the team back in 2006.
Red Bull moved to the top of the constructors championship following Mark Webber's victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix, the fourth win of the season for the Australian driver also putting him top of the drivers championship with seven races remaining.
And Berger believes that although the team is still prone to making mistakes, they have the pace in their car to be able to win the title regardless.
"They can make many mistakes and still be in front," Berger was quoted as saying over the weekend.
And in an interview with Auto Moto und Sport, Berger claimed that the team's remarkable transformation from hapless midfielders to title chasers is thanks to the work of Newey on their car.
The RB6 machine has been the class of the field in 2010, taking eleven of the twelve pole positions in the season so far.
"Aerodynamics are now the lifeblood of a F1 car. This is why I see [Red Bull] being at the front for the next few years," he rambled.
He added, entirely modestly, that: "I always advised Mateschitz to go for Newey.
"At first I was a bit nervous because it didn't immediately work out; I think at the start [Newey] was too distracted with management matters.
"Since he has concentrated on his specialty, he has shown he is in a class of one."
Berger also took time to back Ferrari for their recent policy of favouring Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard was gifted victory in the German Grand Prix after his team mate Felipe Massa let him through.
"Let's not kid ourselves. Alonso is clearly the better man in the team; their only chance for the world championship," Berger explained patiently.
"[Ferrari president Luca di] Montezemolo went shopping for him and he is going to play this card as hard as he can."
The Ferrari team face a day at the World Motor Sport Council next month after they were found to have used 'illegal' team orders during the German race. They were fined $100,000 after the race and could face further punishment from the WMSC.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
