Horner Highlights Red Bull’s Key Challenge Ahead of Brazilian…

Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, highlights that the main challenge for his team in the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix will be to achieve race pace comparable to that of McLaren. Following performance issues in Mexico, where tire grip was a significant concern for Max Verstappen, Horner stresses the need for effective tire management to compete effectively against rivals who have demonstrated strong performance towards the end of races.

Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, Christian Horner, has emphasized that the primary challenge for the reigning constructors’ champions will be to match McLaren’s impressive performance during the latter stages of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, following disappointing results at the recent Mexican Grand Prix. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri of McLaren have shown remarkable ability to conserve their tires, enabling them to launch successful attacks late in races. This trend was evident in Mexico, where Norris significantly closed in on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, ultimately helping to reduce Max Verstappen’s lead in the driver standings. Verstappen experienced considerable difficulty with tire grip throughout the race, struggling to achieve competitive pace after incurring two 10-second penalties. Horner acknowledged that the significant disparity in race pace compared to their qualifying endeavors must be addressed, stating, “I think that is the biggest thing that we need to take away from here. More so on the hard tyre, we just didn’t have the same pace. Max had no grip, we didn’t feel we could switch the tyres on. So that’s the biggest challenge in the next four days, to understand what caused that.” He noted the differences between the circuit in Mexico and the upcoming challenges in Brazil, stating: “Obviously, Brazil is a very different challenge to this circuit, but it’s a pattern that particularly at the end of stints, you see the McLaren is very strong – particularly at the end of grands prix.” Additionally, following Ferrari’s strong performance in Mexico, where Carlos Sainz achieved victory and Leclerc secured third place, Red Bull has fallen to third place in the constructors’ standings. Horner recognized the uphill battle that lies ahead, emphasizing, “I think it will be very difficult. We never give up. We’ll fight very hard. We need both cars, obviously, scoring.” He acknowledged the need for Red Bull to recover after Ferrari’s significant scoring in recent races, saying, “We’re certainly on the back foot.”

Christian Horner’s statements arise in the wake of Red Bull Racing’s performance in the Mexican Grand Prix, where they encountered challenges relating to tire management and race pace. The team’s difficulties were particularly highlighted by their inability to maintain competitive times in the latter part of the race. McLaren has emerged as a formidable competitor, showcasing their capability to perform well in the later stints of a race. This situation now places pressure on Red Bull as they prepare for the Brazilian Grand Prix, aiming for improvement in performance and a reversal of fortunes in the constructors’ championship after recent setbacks against both McLaren and Ferrari.

In summary, Red Bull Racing faces a critical challenge at the Brazilian Grand Prix as they seek to improve their race pace and tire management capabilities. Both Christian Horner and the team recognize the need to address the performance issues highlighted during the Mexican race, especially as competitors like McLaren and Ferrari continue to excel. With Horner’s determination not to give up, Red Bull aims to regain their competitive edge in the constructors’ standings.

Original Source: www.autosport.com