The recent Canada GP was a fantastic outing for Mercedes and Red Bull. While Mercedes had a fair chance to register its first victory in the last two years, Red Bull snatched it. When George Russell started from pole, the Silver Arrows were excited to get the silverware. However, RBR’s starlet, Max Verstappen, had other plans. Despite a terrible practice session, the Dutchman performed better in the Sunday race. Consequently, he clutched at the right time, winning his sixth race of the season.
While the on-track rivalry between the two top teams was exciting, the off-track drama seemed never-ending. Earlier, after the Monaco slump, James Allison, the Mercedes technical leader, remarked about the reigning world champion’s upgrade. Christian Horner has now retaliated after their Canada win.
Horner’s Defiant Response To James Allison: “We Still Won”
Mercedes is on the brink of losing its elite-team status due to a recent performance slump, exacerbated by unresolvable issues with its W15 project. The potential transfer of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari could deepen their woes, marking his final season with the Silver Arrows in 2024 as his worst since debuting, plagued by technological challenges. In stark contrast, having secured three consecutive world championships, Red Bull remains the top team with the fastest car and a commanding points lead. However, the 2024 season has been tumultuous for Red Bull, marred by internal conflicts and declining track performance as rivals close the gap. To address these challenges, their technical team is working relentlessly to rectify fundamental issues and improve in the upcoming weekends.
Despite the contrast, the two have had multiple verbal clashes. Earlier, Mercedes’ technical director, James Allison, pointed out a fault in RBR’s enhancements. During the team’s major news conference, Allison claimed that Red Bull’s Imola upgrade may be to blame for their poor performance. He also stated that the modification would be beneficial as soon as the team achieved cornering speed. Until then, it appears to be a ‘downgrade.’ The claims seemed accurate until the Sunday race, where, ironically, Verstappen triumphed over Russell.
Christian Horner responded to Mercedes and James Allison’s ‘downgrade’ remark by emphasizing Red Bull’s success despite the challenges. He highlighted that despite their perceived downgrade, Red Bull outperformed Mercedes’ upgraded car, making the victory particularly satisfying. Horner acknowledged that the team had faced some difficulties in recent races but still won two out of the last three. Despite the car’s deficiencies, he pointed out their pole position in Imola and how they matched the pole time at the current venue. Horner stated that the team is focused on addressing these issues to enhance their performance further.
George Russell Ready For The Red Bull Challenge Ahead Of The Upcoming Weekends
George Russell reflected on recent performances after the Canadian Grand Prix, noting that despite some tough races, Red Bull has managed to win two of the last three events. He expected Red Bull to make significant strides when the season returned to Europe and its traditional circuits.
Russell emphasized his team’s progress, saying, “I think our step in terms of performance is real. It allows us to fight more consistently with McLaren.” He added that he hoped this improvement would enable them to compete more effectively against Max Verstappen and Ferrari, despite Ferrari’s recent struggles.
Reflecting on his own race, Russell admitted, “In the last three laps, I focused so much on that podium because I felt I had let the team down with my mistakes.” He also highlighted the challenge and respect involved in racing against his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. “As always, fighting with Lewis is very hard but fair. You know, when you fight with one of the best drivers ever, you can trust that person,” he revealed.