P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Christian Horner has a dig at Mercedes following their lacklustre Austrian Grand Prix amid the speculation around Max Verstappen
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner criticized Mercedes for their interest in Max Verstappen, highlighting that Mercedes has its own issues. Red Bull faced a challenging day at the Austrian Grand Prix where Kimi Antonelli caused Verstappen to crash out of the race. Despite a grid penalty for Antonelli, Red Bull’s George Russell finished fifth, facing pressure from Gabriel Bortoleto’s Sauber. The focus of the weekend was on Mercedes’ pursuit of Verstappen, with talks confirmed by Russell. Horner emphasized Red Bull’s focus on performance, noting Mercedes’ struggles and potential missed opportunities for Red Bull against Ferrari. He expressed disappointment over the crash affecting their performance and indicated readiness to bounce back for the upcoming Silverstone race.
