Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, rejected Mercedes’ claim that their recent updates in Formula 1 have weakened their competitiveness. Red Bull’s dominance under the current ground effect regulations has faced more challenges as other teams close in. Ferrari and McLaren have introduced developments that have allowed them to secure victories in the last month, and Mercedes even outperformed Red Bull in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. While Red Bull attributed their struggles in Monaco to track conditions, James Allison, Mercedes’ technical director, believes that some of their updates did not deliver the expected performance. However, Horner refutes this claim and states that the revised parts added to their RB20 car in Imola performed as expected.
In response to Allison’s comments, Horner stated that there is no truth to them. He explained that all updates to their car were successful and were effectively integrated into their setup. Horner acknowledged that rumors often circulate in the F1 paddock, but emphasized that his team has worked diligently to stay ahead of the competition. He acknowledged that the level of competition has increased and that other teams have made progress in closing the gap. However, Horner expressed confidence in his team’s ability to maintain their position at the top.
Regarding Mercedes’ performance in Canada, Horner speculated that the new asphalt at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, combined with the intermittent rain, may have favored the characteristics of the Mercedes car. He acknowledged that Mercedes seemed fast during the weekend and explained that their car tends to perform well on green circuits with cool surfaces. However, Horner made it clear that Red Bull’s main focus is Ferrari and McLaren, not Mercedes, throughout the entire season. He emphasized that there is still much to learn about their car and they are aware of the areas that need improvement. Despite their successes, Horner acknowledged that there are tracks where they have been particularly strong, but also tracks where they still have work to do.
