BREAKING NEWS: Horner Braced for Intense…. FIGHT as Norris…on Verstappen After Singapore. Read More
Horner Braced for Intense…. FIGHT as Norris…on Verstappen After Singapore. Read More
Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, acknowledged that the team faces a fierce challenge to maintain Max Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship as McLaren’s Lando Norris edges closer with a commanding performance in Singapore. The season is now entering its final quarter, and with six races remaining, including three sprint weekends, the pressure is mounting on Verstappen to fend off the rising threat from Norris.
The Singapore Grand Prix, held on the demanding Marina Bay Street Circuit, saw Norris dominate with pole position and a race win, cutting Verstappen’s once-significant lead in the standings from 59 points to 52. With 180 points still available, the competition is heating up, and Horner is bracing for a battle all the way to the final race.
Reflecting on the weekend, Horner admitted that Red Bull’s struggles in Friday’s practice sessions left them with much work to do. Despite those early difficulties, Verstappen managed to secure a front-row start and finished second behind Norris. Horner expressed mixed feelings about the result, recognizing the strong performance from McLaren while emphasizing that Red Bull managed to salvage a positive outcome.
“First of all, you have to congratulate Lando and McLaren. They had a very strong car this weekend,” Horner said. “Particularly on the first stint with the medium tyre, they were very quick. On the hard tyre, we looked in better shape, but by then the gap was too big, and overtaking here is incredibly difficult.”
Given the tough start to the weekend, Horner admitted that taking second place and being well clear of the rest of the field was a solid result. “On Friday night, if you’d have said we’ll qualify on the front row and take second place, we’d have certainly taken that. Now we’ve got the best part of a month to work hard and try to bring some performance to the car in Austin,” he added.
When asked about Verstappen’s chances of holding off Norris in the championship fight, Horner stressed that Red Bull is prepared for a hard-fought battle to the finish. “We’re 52 points ahead with six races to go – a lot of races, a lot of points on the board. We’re going to fight all the way to the end of the championship. There’s still a lot of racing to happen, and we’re going to be fighting hard through the next triple-header and then the final one.”
While Horner remains optimistic about Verstappen’s chances, he acknowledged that Red Bull’s position in the constructors’ championship has become increasingly precarious. McLaren has been gaining ground, especially after a double podium finish in Singapore, with Oscar Piastri securing third place. McLaren now leads Red Bull by 41 points in the constructors’ standings, putting further pressure on Horner’s team as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, had a weekend to forget. After being knocked out in the second phase of qualifying, Perez could only manage 10th in the race, contributing little to Red Bull’s points haul. Horner emphasized the importance of having both drivers performing at their best, especially as McLaren continues to field two cars in podium contention.
“We need to have two drivers firing on all cylinders. Checo had a good weekend last weekend in Azerbaijan, but he had a tough weekend this time. We need to string some weekends together where both drivers are at the sharp end of the field. You can see where McLaren is putting two drivers on the podium, and those big points really make a difference. We need to make sure Checo is as far up the field as we can get him,” Horner explained.
With several challenging circuits ahead, including the upcoming race in Austin, Red Bull has little room for error. Horner knows that every point will be crucial in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. “We’re still fighting for both championships, and we’re highly motivated. There are some circuits coming up where we’ve performed well in the past, and we’ll be pushing hard to maintain our advantage,” he concluded.
As the season approaches its climax, the battle between Verstappen and Norris looks set to go down to the wire, with McLaren’s resurgence threatening Red Bull’s dominance.
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