McLaren hungry to chew on Red Bull, race by race

Two back-to-back wins to open the season, a break and then three back-to-back victories again made Sebastian Vettel virtually impossible to be caught up with in the ongoing Formula One season. The tide, however, is changing. The bets are being withdrawn although not being made again, in a hurry. (Click here for standings)

McLaren's three wins in the last five races has suddenly made everyone stand up and take notice of what was otherwise being seen as a mundane cruise to the title by Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull Racing Team (RBR). That Vettel recently told RBR to re-think strategy ( read full story here) despite enjoying a 103-point lead in the drivers standings shows that the McLaren's are on the right track. With 11 races over and another 8 to go, it is billing up to be a fight to the finish although it seems a lot less closer if the standings are seen numerically.

RBR currently is basking in F1 glory, having won last year and enjoying a 103-point lead over the nearest threat. It's main driver and defending champion Sebastian Vettel has an 85 point advantage over McLaren's Jenson Button but what is worrying is that the gap has been reducing.

McLaren has had issues with reliability but the pace seems back up again and has given enough reasons to make the strongest of RBR fan, wake up from his slumber. What would haunt McLaren and in fact work to  RBR's advantage possibly, is that the team has two drivers in excellent form. Both Button and Hamilton have been racing with superb focus, intent on launching their individual attacks on Vettel. This is in sharp contrast to RBR who allegedly told Mark Webber to back off so that Vettel could score a win, previously. (Read what McLaren boss has to say about Hamilton and Button as rivals here)

While debate and predictions will linger on unless Vettel comes back with a few more wins in the remaining races, the fact that it has heated up augers well for the sport itself.