Damon Hill names the Formula 1 ‘minnows’ who he believes will never become a front-running team

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The aim of every Formula 1 team at the start of each season is to try to win both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

McLaren achieved that coveted double last year, with Lando Norris proudly displaying the number one on his car for the 2026 F1 campaign.

This year’s regulation changes should give every manufacturer the chance to catch up to Andrea Stella’s team, although the likes of Cadillac and Audi, as brand new outfits, will likely be aiming slightly lower.

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Brawn GP’s unexpected triumph in 2009 will be the blueprint for every team aiming to cause an upset this year; however, Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert have called out one team that they think will never be capable of such a feat.

Throughout their entire history, Racing Bulls have only won two races and scored seven podiums, even since the original team, Minardi, made their debut in 1985.

Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad might have their work cut out this year to try and build up that success, with sister team Red Bull unlikely to let them come out on top as they have in the past.

READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

Damon Hill thinks ‘minnows’ Racing Bulls will never be a ‘front-running’ Formula 1 team

Speaking on the Stay on Track Podcast about Racing Bulls heading into the upcoming campaign, Herbert explained: “Can they move themselves, or probably keep themselves in the position they find themselves at the moment? That’s going to be very, very tough as well.”

Hill replied: “But they’re a kind of minnow team, aren’t they?

“They’re a kind of plucky little, doing really well, but they haven’t got the mass, the momentum to be a front-running team.

“And of course they’re sponsored by the same fizzy drink.”

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Herbert concluded: “But you know, from when we started in Formula 1, there were some minnows, but they were very, very poor minnows and they were really way off the pace.

“But considering how small they are, how competitive they have been for the last I don’t know three, four, five years maybe.”

READ MORE: Liam Lawson should be concerned by what Martin Brundle is already ‘hearing’ about Arvid Lindblad

David Coulthard makes Liam Lawson future prediction ahead of the 2026 F1 season

Racing Bulls go into the 2026 season with the least experienced driver pairing on the grid.

Lindblad is this season’s only rookie, while Lawson only has 35 Grand Prix starts under his belt.

Martin Brundle has already heard exciting things about Lindblad after his outing at the shakedown in Barcelona, which might put Lawson’s guard up.

His very brief stint with the senior Red Bull team means he’s unlikely to get a reprieve, and if Racing Bulls are looking to continue being the pathway into F1 for the Austrian outfit’s young drivers, then he might be at risk of losing his seat.

However, David Coulthard has predicted Lawson to be on the grid for several more years, stating that the 24-year-old has ‘dealt with the challenge, now he’s broken the back of it.’

Lawson will have the same ambitions as every other driver on the grid, to eventually become world champion.

Unless he can repeat the incredible feats of Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly and somehow win a race in a Racing Bulls car, then he might need to find himself a new team on the grid going forward.