Christian Horner, usually known for his restraint and diplomacy, was uncharacteristically outspoken on Sunday evening, responding to critical questions about the situation at Red Bull and their lagging performance. “The people working on our cars haven’t suddenly become idiots,” said the team boss.
In Austria, Max Verstappen dropped out in the third turn on Sunday after an unfortunate collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Verstappen’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, did finish the race, albeit after a disastrous performance, and was classified sixteenth and last. In the World Championship standings, Verstappen remains third, but the speed difference with the McLarens is proving to be significant in every race.
After the Austrian Grand Prix, notably Red Bull Racing’s home race, Horner was questioned about the challenging situation within the team, including the earlier departure of key personnel. Master designer Adrian Newey, head designer Rob Marshall, and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley all left before this season. Horner emphasized his continued confidence in the team currently working on the cars.
‘Working Harder and Smarter’
“At its core, this is still the same group of people who, eighteen months ago, were developing a car that won almost every Grand Prix. They haven’t suddenly become idiots. We just have to acknowledge that McLaren is doing a fantastic job right now, and they deserve credit for that. But for us, it’s mainly about working harder, working smarter, and seeing what happens in the upcoming races,” said Horner.
“I still believe we have enough quality within this team, but unfortunately, we’re just not seeing it reflected in the performance. We’re approaching the end of the current regulations, and I think we’re also getting squeezed by the resources we have available at the moment.”
Horner has also given up on the idea of title retention. “I think the buffer they have this season is just too large, so the title fight really seems to be a two-man race.”
