P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Christian Horner has insisted that Red Bull do not now have a bad car after appearing to be caught by McLaren and Ferrari.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner emphasized that their competition with McLaren and Ferrari is a marathon, not a sprint, as the two rivals have caught up with the typically dominant outfit. The Milton Keynes-based team has been struggling in the last three races due to their car’s performance on bumpy surfaces and circuits where riding kerbs is crucial for lap times. Despite Max Verstappen winning the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Red Bull has been slower than Ferrari and McLaren in recent races like Miami, Imola, and Monaco. Both Horner and McLaren boss Andrea Stella are cautious about declaring a title fight, waiting to see Red Bull’s performance after the Canadian Grand Prix on a track where riding kerbs is vital. Horner believes that the upcoming races in Montreal, Barcelona, Austria, and Silverstone will be crucial in determining the championship standings, with expectations that Red Bull’s dominance will return as they excel on smoother circuits in Europe. Horner remains confident in the RB20’s capabilities, stressing that it’s not a sudden decline in performance but rather a matter of adapting to different track characteristics and making necessary improvements.
