Christian Horner notes that he isn’t surprised with Red Bull not having a year like F1 2023 as he always expected to not repeat a unicorn season.
Having had a season of domination in F1 2023, Red Bull is facing stiff competition in 2024 from Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes together. They are beating each other as well. The reigning champions are still leading, but it is getting intense as the season goes on.
Despite the lack of results from Sergio Perez, Red Bull has managed to retain its lead in the constructors’ and also the drivers’ championship. This is possible since Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes are not allowing anyone to stretch away into the distance.
Horner is not surprised how the season is panning out as he notes that Red Bull were unlikely to repeat a unicorn season like 2024. Of course, the 2023 season was less stressful for Red Bull than 2024, but he feels it is all about fine margins now.
“F1 can’t be in a better place at the moment,” said Horner to media. “If you look at the last five-six races, we’ve had Lewis, we’ve had Lando, we’ve had Max, we’ve had Charles Leclerc – it’s moving around. The only one that has managed to be there consistently has been Max.
“So the sport is really – you can see by the crowds that… it’s delivering and I’m sure Lewis’ win in Silverstone was a very popular win in front of a home crowd. When we were winning races by 30, 40 seconds last year it was slightly less stressful but it is weird because when you are winning races by that margin you are just focused on reliability and other elements and now you don’t get to think about reliability because it is all about driving flat out.
“I think it is more rewarding to win a hard-fought race, of course it is, but 2023 it is only with hindsight it will become a very special year and what was achieved that year. I keep referring to it as a unicorn year. They don’t exist, what we did last year was never achieved before and may never be achieved again.
“This is far more normal Formula 1 but we still have an 80-something point lead in the drivers’ championship and have extended our lead in the constructors’ championship,” summed up Horner, who continued to shower praise on Max Verstappen, who has managed yet to keep his nose ahead despite the stiff competition.
“They’re all driving on the limit,” said Horner. “If you look at them in Silverstone, they were all driving on the limit. There is stuff that we have in the pipeline that, whilst we are at the top of the curve, there are still gains to be had and inevitably, when it closes, it is down to those marginal fine details that make the difference.
“The form is moving around a bit. Mercedes were strong in Silverstone, McLaren were strong in Austria, we won before in Barcelona. Out of the triple header, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Max has scored the most points.”
Here’s Adrian Newey on RB17, Red Bull, future
Here’s the unveil of RB17
Here’s Christian Horner on Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar
Here’s Christian Horner on Sergio Perez situation
Here’s Max Verstappen, Christian Horner on recovering to P2
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