Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is certainly a hot topic currently in Formula 1, with rumours having suggested that Ferrari are interested in the Brit to take on their team principal role for 2023, following Mattia Binotto’s resignation.
The Austrians enjoyed great success in 2022, as they stormed to both the Drivers’ and the Constructors’ Championships, with the latter being their first since 2013.
Until 2022, the hybrid era had been a challenging one for the previously dominant Austrians, who claimed four consecutive Constructors’ Championships from 2010-2013.
Red Bull have had to watch on as Mercedes reigned supreme in the sport, a role that the energy drink-owned side previously held.
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The most recent campaign may well be another changing of the guard, though, with Mercedes having fallen to third in the standings following so much success.
It’s no secret that the Germans had a plethora of issues in 2022 that they’ll hopefully have solved before the start of the 2023 season, with Horner confident that the Silver Arrows will “come back fighting hard”.
“I think both those guys have had a great season,” said Horner to Sky Sports, when asked for his thoughts on George Russell and Lewis Hamilton’s season at the Autosport Awards.
“I mean George finishing ahead of Lewis in his first year with the team was an impressive performance, but Lewis is obviously still right there. You’ve got to assume that they’re going to come back fighting hard next year and Ferrari as well will be looking to make progress.
“It’s set to be a really tough season next year.”
Perhaps as a result of Red Bull’s incredible season, where the side won 17 races, remarkably, a rumour has been circulating that Ferrari want Horner to replace Binotto.
After a 28-year spell with the Italians, Binotto handed his resignation in, which will see him leave the Scuderia at the end of the year.
With Binotto departing imminently, it’s meant that the Maranello-based outfit have begun the familiar process of finding a new team principal.
Horner admitted that he wasn’t surprised that Binotto was going to be leaving his role as team principal at Ferrari, whilst joking that the Italians have had an incredible number of team bosses.
“Not really,” admitted Horner.
“I mean, that’s obviously Ferrari’s choice. I think it’ll be the sixth [Ferrari] team principal I’ve sat opposite since being at Red Bull.
“Obviously difficult for him [Binotto], they had a great car this year and they were certainly competitive.”
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Horner, who has been Red Bull’s team principal since the side joined the sport in 2005, also confirmed that he has no interest in taking Binotto’s job, with his “commitment” being with the Austrians.
“My commitment is very much with the Red Bull team,” insisted the Austrians boss.
“I’ve been there since the beginning and obviously I have a very close attachment.”