Drawing from his own experience of not winning titles, Horner empathizes with his rival Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, but expects a fierce competition in the upcoming seasons.
A History of Rivalry and Respect
Red Bull, under Horner's leadership, had a successful run with four consecutive titles from 2010 to 2013. However, the team lost their crown to Wolff and Mercedes in 2014. Mercedes, also known as the Silver Arrows, then dominated the sport, winning eight consecutive constructors' titles from 2014 to 2021.
Despite this, Red Bull managed to bounce back in 2022, adapting best to the new ground effect technical regulations. They regained the title in 2022 and sealed their second consecutive – and sixth overall – constructors’ championship in 2023.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Horner emphasized the importance of rivalry in sports. He said, "To me sport is about rivalry. It’s great to have rivalry. There has to be a respect, but sport isn’t sport without rivalry."
Mercedes' Potential Comeback
Horner expects Mercedes to be "plotting" a comeback. He believes that the team, with its great drivers and resources, will be looking to fight back. He said, "Obviously, we haven’t seen much of him in the last couple of years but I’m sure he is plotting. I’m sure he’s got something that they are working on, and they are a great team, they are a big team, they’ve got great drivers, they’ll be looking to fight back."
Horner also acknowledged the pain of losing, having experienced it himself. He said, "It hurts when you’re losing. If it doesn’t hurt then you shouldn’t be doing it. We had a long period, six to seven seasons of hurt, of being the bridesmaid, and we never lost sight of where we wanted to be, [and] we were the team to break that domination."
Looking Ahead: Red Bull's Focus
Despite the potential threat from Mercedes and other teams, Horner stated that Red Bull's focus remains on their own performance. He said, "And everything goes in cycles, at some point somebody will beat us. Now, whether it is Mercedes or Ferrari or McLaren or Aston Martin or whoever, we don’t know, but all we can control is what we are doing. So, that’s all we are focused on, ourselves.”
Max Verstappen's Potential Third Title Win
As for the upcoming weekend’s action, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen could seal his third title win in the Lusail Sprint. Horner expressed that the timing of the win doesn't matter, as long as they secure the trophy. He said, “We don’t care when we win it, as long as we win it. It’s about getting that trophy, getting that third title to his name."
In conclusion, the anticipation for the 2024 Formula 1 season is high, with Red Bull expecting a strong comeback from Mercedes. However, Red Bull remains focused on their own performance and is looking forward to potentially securing a third title for their star driver, Max Verstappen.
