No one is waving the white flag quite yet but there is an overwhelming sense that after only two races of the new Formula One season a drawn-out procession has begun to an inevitable conclusion of Max Verstappen and Red Bull claiming the title. Good news for the Dutchman and his team but the manner in which it is likely to play out will be far less welcomed by F1 as it attempts to hang on to all the new fans it has attracted in recent years.
In the opening two meetings Red Bull have secured two one-twos, the first in Bahrain with Verstappen in front of teammate Sergio Pérez and on Sunday the reverse result in Saudi Arabia. At Jeddah Pérez won from pole but Verstappen came back from 15th on the grid to take second with both cars exhibiting remarkable pace, at times a second a lap quicker than the rest of the field.
