Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has hinted that the perceived advantage his team displayed over their Formula 1 competitors during the Bahrain Grand Prix might not accurately reflect the true competitive landscape.
Horner suggested that their decision to utilize the soft tyre in the second stint of the race may have “exaggerated” their margin over the rest of the field.
The defending champions started the 2024 season on a high note, securing a 1-2 finish in Bahrain, marking their first such achievement since the 2023 Italian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen, starting from pole position, dominated the race, clinching victory with a commanding lead of over 20 seconds.
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Meanwhile, Sergio Perez staged an impressive recovery from fifth place to secure second position ahead of the two Ferraris.
Despite Red Bull’s strong start to the season, Horner remains cautious about drawing definitive conclusions.
He anticipates that the competition will “converge” as the season progresses, emphasizing the variability of factors across different venues and conditions.
Horner highlighted Red Bull’s strategic tyre choice as a key factor in their performance, noting that they were the sole team in the top 10 to opt for the soft tyres for the final stint.
He suggested that this decision may have artificially widened the gap between Red Bull and their rivals.
Acknowledging the team’s success in Bahrain, Horner stressed the importance of maintaining perspective in a long and dynamic season.
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He commended Verstappen’s dominant performance and Perez’s remarkable drive through the field, but also noted that the final outcome might have been influenced by tyre strategies.
In conclusion, while Red Bull celebrated a strong start to the season with a convincing victory in Bahrain, Horner remains cautious about reading too much into the result of a single race.
He anticipates a closer competition as the season unfolds, with teams adapting to various challenges and conditions across different circuits.