P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner has warned Ferrari that the team’s environment could become “divisive” with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in 2025.
The headlines have been dominated by Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari over the past year, with the aim of securing both his eighth Drivers’ Championship and ending Ferrari’s title drought. Despite the change, Hamilton will not have number-one status at Ferrari and will be on equal terms with Leclerc, setting the stage for an intense intra-team battle between the two drivers. In contrast, Red Bull has established Verstappen as the lead driver, while the team has emphasized adding “strength in depth” with newcomer Liam Lawson. While this approach cost Red Bull the Constructors’ title in 2024, Horner believes it prevents the tensions that Ferrari may experience with two top drivers. However, Ferrari’s chief Vasseur has expressed confidence in the benefits of having competitive team-mates, pointing to the success of Leclerc and Sainz’s equal opportunities in elevating the team to second place. Vasseur sees the potential title fight between Hamilton and Leclerc as a positive challenge that ultimately contributes to the team’s performance and success.
