The Red Bull squad is in desperate need of revival. After starting the season on a solid note, the RBR was derailed. Since the Miami GP, the Milton Keynes-based outfit appears vulnerable. Moreover, the team has not won a race in its last seven outings. This has been a rare occurrence in F1 for the past couple of years, as the Bulls dominated the sport in every sphere. However, it all started with an internal power struggle, which soon turned into a silent mutiny. As a result, key individuals started leaving the side while others were sitting near the exit door.
The situation is far more chaotic than it appears from the outside. The entropy has gulped in Red Bull’s domination and is now trailing McLaren in the Constructors Standings. On the other hand, Max Verstappen is leading Lando Norris by 52 points in the Driver’s Cup. However, this lead could soon diminish, given the Woking squads’ upsurge. Therefore, Christian Horner has opted for mind games as a last resort amid a dramatic slump.
The Final Moves: Christian Horner’s Mind Games Intensify as Red Bull Faces a Downturn
The root of the Austrian squad’s misery is RB20’s technical woes. The technical crew ventured too far down a flawed development path and now seems to have completely lost direction. All the hopes are on the upcoming floor upgrade, which will debut in Austin. However, as the team has failed consistently to return to the dominant path, the team led by Christian Horner has opted for a different resort. The team is using mind game tactics to rile up the F1 paddock. The RBR spearhead, Christian Horner, is at the forefront of this attack. He uses media interactions to get into the rival’s head and unsettle them with words.
Recently, Horner sought to stir tensions at McLaren by implying that the team operates a clear hierarchy between drivers, with Lando Norris favored over Oscar Piastri. Horner pointed out that McLaren invests significantly more in Norris, labeling him the team’s biggest asset. He speculated that Piastri’s impressive performances may create internal challenges for McLaren, suggesting the Australian outperforms Norris, thus causing tension.
Horner’s comments come despite Max Verstappen maintaining a 52-point lead over Norris, partly because McLaren was late in supporting Norris over Piastri earlier in the season. Horner, a sports veteran with decades of leadership experience, likely understands the complexity of McLaren’s internal dynamics, yet his comments seem intended to unsettle the team amidst Red Bull’s own struggles.
What’s The Logic Behind Horner’s Tactics?
McLaren was not the only squad on Horner’s radar. He also tried to unsettle Toto Wolff by showing interest in George Russell. When asked about RBR’s second driver, he said the team is ready to look beyond its talent pool and consider Russell an option.
Moreover, all these tactics are just a way to hurry the opponent. He wants to rile up the rivals and force them to make a blunder. This also shows that the Bulls are trying everything possible to regain domination. Only time will reveal if the Briton’s tactics will succeed in unsettling his rivals.