Mercedes and Red Bull’s on-track battles are not enough to call them the most rival pair of Formula One. The off-track politics are also necessary to finally call them each other’s enemy [only in sports]. Just like Max Verstappen from Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes keeps on battling on the track. Christian Horner and Toto Wolff, too, keep the fire lit off the track, not with the cars but with words! Recently Horner came out to claim that at least six teams, including Mercedes, have exceeded the cost cap budget by a certain amount.
Meanwhile, speaking specifically about Mercedes, the Red Bull boss remained surprised at how Mercedes brought so many upgrades and yet did not breach the budget in the 2022 Formula One season. Seems impossible! However, Christian Horner does believe that Mercedes went through some surprising progress too. The way they started the season initially and the way they ended the season is quite bitting different and impressive.
Right after 20 races, Mercedes made its first win, that too, with a one-two finish. Indeed incredible it was to see George Russell winning for the first time in Formula One with such dominance on the track that no one even for once came ahead of him.
In an interview, the GPFans asked Christian Horner about the rapid developments of Mercedes throughout the entire season. He said, “Under the cost cap, it has been surprising. The amount of developments [under the budget of $140 million is not possible, there must be an overspend].” However, the Red Bull principal is impressed with how Mercedes made progress. He stated, “It has certainly been surprising to the rate of development, especially in the second half of the season.”
“Mercedes Gonna Improve The Performance Next Year”- Christian Horner
In addition, Christain Horner proved to be a true competitor who doesn’t want the rivals to be weak again. Rather he expects them to be strong. For Mercedes, Red Bull’s biggest rival, Horner said, “I would expect them to be very strong next season.” Along with all the Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes fans, Horner also believes that the Silver Arrows are not going to have the same experience also next year. Horner admitted that Mercedes is a very capable team with very capable drivers. So, yes, Red Bull is set for a really competitive season of Formula One next year.”
Meanwhile, of the budget breach of Mercedes, Red Bull has raised a concern. As he suggested that Mercedes brought too much of developments, it might count the team in the list of the six teams that he claimed to have overspent. The main reason that Christian Horner and Red Bull’s head advisor Helmut Marko have suggested for the breaching is the energy price that fluctuates in Europe. Even if the team didn’t want to exceed the budget intentionally, they did, as the energy prices were growing high enough.
Being a team that has been penalized for breaching the 2021 cost budget, Red Bull is much aware of the consequences that come with overspending. For the record, Christian Horner has confirmed that Red Bull is well under the cap this year. In 2023, there will be no such controversy as the named cost cap scandal that took place in 2022. But for Mercedes, a huge controversy is waiting. Let’s see what FIA finds in the annual report.