Vettel: A question of 'when' rather than 'if' Red Bull joins the fight

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Valtteri Bottas' flawless win on Sunday has added a third driver to the title mix, but Sebastian Vettel also wants Red Bull Racing to becomes a force to be reckoned with.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit, which was foreseen as Mercedes' main challenger before the season got underway, is clearly lagging both the German squad and Ferrari after four races.

But with a radical overhaul of its RB13 scheduled for Spain next week and a power unit upgrade pinpointed for Canada in June, many are hoping for Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen to upset the pecking order.

"I think it will be a very close race between Mercedes and us, I hope, and I also hope that Red Bull find some pace," Vettel said about the team which delivered his four world championships.

Video: Vettel flips the bird to Massa!

"There's a lot of rumours around [regarding the Red Bull update]. They are a strong team, they know how to build a quick car so I expect it's a question of when rather than if.

"But the sooner, the more exciting it will be for us.

"I'm confident that we have the right people, the right tools on board and we will make progress. It obviously depends on what others are doing."

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner admitted that his team had its work cut out for it to catch - let alone - pass, the Silver Arrows and the Prancing Horse machines.

"We've given ourselves a lot to do but the whole team is focused on that and hopefully for the next race, we can start making progress," he said.

Gallery: All the action from Sunday in Sochi

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.