In the final stages of the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, it is Max Verstappen who holds the lead over Lando Norris.
Christian Horner has said Red Bull will respond in the F1 2024 development race following the emergence of McLaren and Ferrari over recent weeks.
Red Bull produced the most dominant season in history in F1 2023, winning 21 out of a possible 22 races as Max Verstappen (19 wins) eased to a third successive World Championship.
Christian Horner: Red Bull must react to McLaren, Ferrari threat
Red Bull’s quest to retain their edge over rivals by embracing a fresh development concept for the upcoming season hasn’t entirely gone as planned in F1 2024.
Despite Verstappen’s impressive start to his latest title defence, securing five victories out of the first seven races, Red Bull has experienced losses as Ferrari and McLaren claimed wins in Australia and Miami, courtesy of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, respectively.
After achieving his first triumph in Miami earlier this month, Norris exerted immense pressure on Verstappen during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last weekend, finishing just 0.725 seconds behind at the finish line.
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After a major upgrade in Miami, McLaren’s performance has noticeably improved, while Ferrari has introduced several updates at Imola in an effort to catch up with Red Bull.
After the race, Horner emphasized the importance for Red Bull to continue maximizing the RB20’s potential as their competitors narrow the gap.
He expressed that it serves as proof that Formula 1 is constantly evolving. One must continue to strive and progress.
“We have emerged victorious in five out of the seven races so far. However, it is evident that McLaren and Ferrari have made progress, and in order to stay competitive, we must continue our rate of development.”
This weekend, Horner anticipates McLaren and Ferrari to maintain the pressure despite the distinctive obstacles of the Monaco Grand Prix.
He further stated, “Monaco provides a wholly unique setting.”
Qualifying plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of the race. The race is essentially won on Saturday, highlighting the significance of having exceptional one-lap performance and a car with a robust front end.
“I believe both McLaren and Ferrari will be strong contenders in that race.”
When asked to identify the primary threat to Red Bull before the Monaco race, he responded by stating, “In my opinion, McLaren currently possesses a highly swift car.”
In my opinion, Oscar Piastri displayed moments of impressive speed, while Lando was exceptionally fast towards the end of the race.
“Additionally, Ferrari is also among the contenders, adding four more cars to the competition we are facing.”
When you have been pushed to your limits, winning a race like that brings immense satisfaction.
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