So far, the updates at Red Bull Racing have not brought the hoped-for success: Team Principal Christian Horner explains what will be important now
Only 42 points separate Red Bull and McLaren in the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship, although the lead after six rounds of the season was once 115 points. Since mid-May, however, the McLaren team has made up 73 points on the world champion team with an extensive update package in Miami, meaning that a close duel for the championship can be expected after the summer break.
According to Team Principal Christian Horner, Red Bull know exactly what they need to do in order to maintain their lead. The focus is primarily on the further development of the car, as the updates made so far this year have rather fizzled out, while McLaren and Mercedes have made great strides forward.
“The whole team is still working flat out on this car, because with stable rules, everything we learn now is also relevant for next year,” says Horner. “And if you look back at the first part of the year, we’re already halfway there.”
“We’ve won seven Grands Prix. We’ve won two or three sprint races. We lead both championships. But in recent weeks, the lead in the constructors’ championship has shrunk somewhat. And that is our focus. “
Horner: Handicap system starts to work
According to Horner, the effects of the handicap system introduced a few years ago are now also becoming apparent in aerodynamic development. As last year’s constructors’ champion, Red Bull has less time in the wind tunnel and CFD runs than the competition, which should bring the field closer together.
“It’s inevitable that you get to the top of the curve and we have less wind tunnel time than others because of the handicap system, and that’s normal,” says the 50-year-old. “I mean it will see further convergence next year as well.”
“I think everyone is getting to the top of the curve, and one week it’s Mercedes, the next McLaren, the next Red Bull, while Ferrari haven’t shown up for a while. So it’s constantly changing. But we know what we need to focus on and improve on, and we’re all doing that. “
After Belgium: No further Red Bull grid penalties expected
The fact that another rival has now joined Mercedes at the top is unlikely to please Red Bull, as two more drivers could now take points off Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in the world championship battle against McLaren. However, Horner is relaxed about the Silver Arrows’ brilliant performance in Belgium
“It was a very dominant performance, but I think if Max had started from pole, the race would have been very different, but we took the penalty here. We have done damage limitation. I think we need to work with Checo and continue to support him to understand what’s not quite working at the moment.”
According to Horner, Red Bull is now back in the green on the engine side after the grid penalty in Belgium, which is why he does not expect any further grid penalties over the course of the season: “But that also depends on what happens with the pool. But at the moment we are okay. “
Horner: The next 18 months will be tighter than ever?
And even if Red Bull still has a relatively large cushion, at least in the drivers’ championship, Horner knows that the world championship battle could be very close next year if four top teams at the front build a car capable of winning.
“I think it’s great for the sport and it was almost inevitable that there would be a convergence when you have one standard or one set of regulations,” he says. “If you look at the history of Formula 1, it’s always like that. I remember Ron Dennis banging the drum in 2005 when I came into Formula 1.”
“He had the best car back then, but convergence has always brought the teams together. Of course, there is a big rule change coming in 2026 that will lead to divergence, but I think it will be very close between the four teams for the next 18 months until then. “
