Five reasons why Red Bull have stayed ahead of the chasing pack

1 They had less development to do over the winter, and could fine-tune They had the best car last season – in truth they made winning both championships look harder than it should have been – and therefore had the least development to do to stay ahead of the pack. Fine-tuning this winning design has proved ominously successful and everyone else is playing catch-up. Again. 2 Adrian Newey is a genius and has done everything to perfection This year's success is no accident, as the team has been built entirely around the designer Adrian Newey. It may have taken several years to get here, but as always with Newey it was worth the wait. His ability to build speed into the very essence of the car's design has been instrumental. Upgrades and bolt-ons can make tweaks but Newey's vision is at its core. 3 The altered front wing The RB7's aerodynamic packaging is extraordinarily efficient in producing downforce, so much so that the Kers system has proved difficult to incorporate. But in Formula One great vision tends to go hand-in-hand with great controversy, and the extra downforce generated by a "flexing" front wing upset the other teams, even though it is perfectly legal. 4 Vettel has got even better since becoming a world champion With a first world championship under his belt at 23, a huge load has been lifted from Sebastian Vettel's shoulders. The accomplishment fuels the belief that he can do it again, as well as alleviating any pressure he might have put on himself. For proof of the benefit look no further than Britain's Jenson Button, whose composure has grown since claiming the crown in 2009. 5 Red Bull are very fast over one lap Absolutely imperious over one lap, Vettel's Red Bull has barely been challenged in qualifying this year, leading to four pole positions from as many races. That gives him the opportunity to dominate the race and means he never has to confront the one question mark that remains over his skill as a driver – the one over his ability to win from a start in the middle of the pack.