Christian Horner lucid about McLaren’s rise to power
In Barcelona, the head of Red Bull Racing was forthright about the effects of the new technical directive, the rivalry with McLaren, the doubts surrounding Yuki Tsunoda, and his future in the paddock. Serene but not blind, Christian Horner knows that time is running out.
Questioned at the beginning of the conference about the impact of the new technical directive concerning the front wing, Christian Horner remained measured. The change is relatively subtle, but it is significant. […] It will take more than one session to see if it has an impact, and if so, how it affects the different cars.
The engineers are still searching for balance on a track made challenging by the heat, particularly on this historic circuit, which is very demanding on the front left tire. Nevertheless, according to Horner, the net effect for us was rather low.
Red Bull under pressure from McLaren
If Red Bull has often shone in Barcelona, the sporting director did not hide that the tide has turned. McLaren will be the favorite this weekend. […] Lando or Oscar, hard to say, but they will be very competitive. An admission of humility that contrasts with the ambitions expressed internally. Midway through the season, Red Bull must respond. What is crucial for us is to start chipping away at their lead in the championship.
When asked if he shares Max Verstappen’s analysis, who said he doesn’t feel in a title fight, Horner partially agrees. We must ensure we stay in the rhythm. […] They [McLaren] are the car to beat. It’s up to us to improve the performance of our car this summer.
Tsunoda, Hadjar, and the famous second car
Asked about the performance of Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s current teammate, and the possibility of seeing Isack Hadjar promoted, Horner cautiously sidesteps. « It’s still early for Yuki. He is fast. He just needs to put everything together. I think he is capable of it. »
As for Hadjar? Nothing decided. While there were rumors of contacts with Ferrari for a potential transfer, Horner responded with humor but firmness. My commitment is 100% with Red Bull. […] My Italian is worse than Flavio’s English, so how would that work?
Monaco: A Race Format to Reinvent?
Returning finally to the controversy of the Monaco Grand Prix and the two-stop format, Horner remains realistic. « Monaco is Monaco. […] It was a little more uncertain this year, but it didn’t really solve the problem. If we want change, we need to rethink the track. […] There needs to be at least the hope of an overtaking. »
