Despite winning both championships by a comfortable margin in 2022, last season did not come without controversy and criticism for Red Bull.
The team were found guilty of breaching the 2021 cost cap around the time of the Singapore Grand Prix and were branded as cheats by members of the paddock such as McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
Sky Sports pundit Ted Kravitz also found himself embroiled in a war of words with Red Bull, after he insinuated that Max Verstappen ‘robbed’ Lewis Hamilton of the world championship title in 2021, despite it being race director Michael Masi that potentially changed the outcome of the race rather than the Dutchman.
In the wake of Red Bull’s cost cap penalty being awarded, that will see the team fined $7m and have their wind tunnel testing time cut by ten percent, team principal Christian Horner has suggested that his team’s success makes them a “cheap target” for the media.
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Former Red Bull driver turned pundit David Coulthard has now urged Horner and Red Bull to take this criticism on the chin, suggesting that it is simply part of Formula 1 to be criticised.
“When it comes to the media, they all have the right to interpret the scenario and events based on their particular vantage point,” Coulthard told The Mirror.
“If you only ever see things from people who agree with you or say nice things about you, then that’s a very blinkered view of life.
“I suspect McLaren is sensitive to some criticism, and Mercedes had some criticism during their dominant era as well. You’ve just got to accept it.
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“Obviously, Red Bull and Christian are going to be sensitive to any criticism of what they do, because it’s personal.”
Max Verstappen was joined by his team in his boycott of Sky Sports interviews at the Mexican Grand Prix last season, as comments made by the broadcasters about him finally proved too much and forced the Dutchman to take a stand.
The energy drink giants will be hoping to keep a lower profile in 2023, as they will most likely face a sterner challenge for the title as Mercedes and Ferrari learn from last year’s mistakes.