Red Bull Racing have hit some real difficulties and challenges in this season than it has ever witnessed since the current ground effect regulations were enforced. The drink based outfit dominated Formula 1 for two seasons, with Max Verstappen claiming three championships on the trot.
However, the tide has turned as rivals have closed down the gap to a struggling Red Bull. In the past few races, Max Verstappen has been extremely vocal while picking out the team’s deficiencies. However, team principal Christian Horner ruled out any case of concern, saying Max’s frustration stems from his desire to achieve excellence.
Christian Horner To Pacify Max Verstappen After Frustrating Criticism
Max Verstappen hasn’t faced any real challenge in F1 in over two years until the Australia Grand Prix. He faced a DNF due to overheating brakes, and Red Bull’s dominance has never been the same since. In the recently concluded Canada Grand Prix, Max reported issues with suspension stiffness that restricted smooth drive over kerbs and bumps. Not only that, Verstappen’s RB20 had an ERS failure, which led to a change in the power unit. And the three-time World Champion has been vocal in calling out the discrepancies vividly in media sessions as well as radio messages. However, Red Bull team principal and CEO Christian Horner is not at all alarmed by Max’s building frustration.
Christian Horner deemed Max Verstappen a demanding customer who is voicing his concerns without any hesitation. Horner added that at any point in a season, it’s only natural to get into choppy waters, as staying consistent in a high-pressure competitive environment is easier said than done. Additionally, the 50-year-old feels that Max and the entire team back at Milton Keynes are competitive and want to strive for excellence. Hence, when Max says something, he represents the whole team.
“That’s the way this team is and what it strives for,” Horner said. Nonetheless, Horner is confident of getting through this rough patch soon, potentially as soon as the next race weekend in Spain, as RB20 is expected to be at its strongest on the Barcelona circuit. And as far as the machinery issues are concerned, the team principal believes the engineers have identified the root cause of the problem. And are actively working towards a solution.
Red Bull Boss Defends Checo Amid Horror Slump
Besides Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez’s underwhelming form is giving sleepless nights to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Checo, who signed a two-year extension contract, retired in the last two races due to unwarranted crashes. However, Horner backed the Mexican driver, saying the latter is a tough character and a tough racer.
“You see this with Checo time and time again; you think he’s on the ropes, and then he bounces back,” Horner said. The Red Bull boss added that, more than anyone, bad race weekends hurt Checo the most. The pressure gets to him and ignites a burning desire to prove the doubters wrong. Hence, Christian Horner is confident that Perez will bounce back sooner rather than later.
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