JULY 25, 2013

Red Bull on track for another title

Mercedes' Toto Wolff has all but conceded the 2013 title.

The German squad is currently second only to Red Bull in the constructors' championship, while the highest-ranked silver clad driver is Lewis Hamilton, in fourth.

But new team co-owner and director Wolff told Austrian news agency APA that Red Bull is once again on a course for title glory.

"To their sporting achievements, you have to take your hat off," he said.

"They have been world champion three times, and it looks like it will be four now."

However, Mercedes is having by far its best season since taking over Brawn GP in 2009, despite the W04 struggling at times to manage the sensitive Pirelli tyres.

Wolff agreed that the Brackley based team is "above (the) expectations" of the winter.

But he also admitted there have been "problems", and they could bite with a fury in Budapest this weekend, where temperatures are set to soar into the high 30s C.

"The heat has done us no favours in the last few races," said Wolff, "but we need to solve it. We cannot just hope it's always 15 degrees."

(GMM)