Christian Horner, the Red Bull Team Principal, has issued a stark warning to McLaren amidst the intense battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris for the World title. Horner emphasized that “self-interest will always outweigh team interest,” setting the stage for potential conflicts that could benefit Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, as seen at the Imola Grand Prix.
During the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Piastri started on pole but lost the lead to Verstappen early on, allowing the Red Bull driver to dominate the race. McLaren’s strategic decisions, including Norris’ timely pit stop, played into Verstappen’s hands, costing McLaren valuable points in the championship battle.
Horner highlighted the risks of individual agendas superseding team objectives, especially as Piastri and Norris vie for the championship title with only 13 points separating them in the standings. The Team Principal expressed concerns over potential conflicts arising from competing priorities within McLaren’s camp, hinting at the challenges ahead for the team.
Despite McLaren’s efforts at Imola, Red Bull emerged victorious, with Verstappen securing his second win of the F1 2025 season and closing the gap on championship leader Piastri to just 22 points. As the rivalry intensifies on the track, the influence of individual ambitions on team dynamics could prove decisive in shaping the outcome of the World Championship.