Horner Warns Ferrari About Potential Divisiveness of.....

Horner Warns Ferrari About Potential Divisiveness of…..read more

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has expressed concerns about the potential challenges Ferrari could face in the 2025 Formula 1 season with their new driver lineup of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. According to Horner, Ferrari’s decision to pair two highly competitive drivers, without establishing a clear number-one driver, could lead to internal tensions and divisiveness within the team, especially as both drivers will be fighting for supremacy on the track.

For the upcoming season, both Ferrari and Red Bull will field new driver lineups. Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion and one of the most successful drivers in F1 history, will leave Mercedes to join Ferrari. He will team up with Leclerc, who has long been viewed as Ferrari’s future star and has carried the team’s hopes for several years. At Red Bull, meanwhile, the team will promote Liam Lawson to replace Sergio Perez, pairing him with reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Horner, in a recent interview with talkSPORT, pointed out that Red Bull’s driver dynamic is much clearer, with Verstappen firmly established as their lead driver. Lawson, though talented, is expected to provide solid support to Verstappen in his pursuit of more titles.

Horner emphasized that the philosophy at Red Bull is straightforward: Verstappen is the undisputed team leader, and the team’s strategy revolves around maximizing his chances of winning the championship. Lawson’s role, while important, is to support Verstappen in any way possible. Horner stated that the focus at Red Bull will always be on Verstappen’s consistent pursuit of titles, and any performance from his teammate that challenges him is seen as a bonus, but not a source of internal conflict. This clear driver hierarchy allows Red Bull to maintain a united front and avoid the potential complications that can arise from intra-team rivalry.

In contrast, Ferrari will enter 2025 with two drivers who are both capable of winning the title. Hamilton, with his eyes set on securing a record eighth World Championship, will bring immense experience and a fierce competitive spirit to the team. His arrival at Ferrari is sure to fuel fierce competition, not just with other teams, but also with Leclerc, who will be eager to prove he is the driver capable of leading Ferrari back to championship glory. Leclerc has been seen as the future of Ferrari, and the team has invested heavily in him for several years. But with Hamilton joining, Leclerc will face a new, formidable challenge within his own team.

Horner’s primary concern is that the lack of a defined driver hierarchy at Ferrari could create internal friction. With both Hamilton and Leclerc competing for individual glory, they may end up taking points away from each other during the season, particularly in races where team orders could become a factor. As both drivers chase their own goals—Hamilton aiming for an eighth world title, and Leclerc hoping to cement himself as Ferrari’s leading driver—the team will likely face difficult decisions about who to prioritize. This could lead to confusion or tension on race weekends, especially if both drivers are in contention for race wins or championships.

Horner also pointed out that while both drivers are undoubtedly talented, the situation at Ferrari is markedly different from Red Bull’s approach. Red Bull has a clear structure, where Verstappen’s dominance is the focal point of the team’s efforts. The team’s unity comes from their understanding that Verstappen is their most valuable asset, and any challenges from his teammate are seen as a healthy competition, but not something that will disrupt the overall team goals. Ferrari, however, is adopting a more risky strategy by placing two top-tier drivers in the same team, without establishing a clear pecking order.

This setup could make it difficult for Ferrari to present a united front, particularly if Hamilton and Leclerc both push for the title. Horner warns that the internal rivalry could disrupt the team’s performance, especially if their competitive drive leads to points being taken off each other. He believes this could complicate Ferrari’s ability to maintain focus on the collective goal of winning the Constructors’ Championship, as well as achieving their drivers’ individual ambitions.

Horner concluded that different teams have different approaches to managing driver relationships. While Red Bull has benefitted from having a clear team hierarchy with Verstappen at the forefront, Ferrari’s decision to allow both Hamilton and Leclerc to pursue individual glory could bring unforeseen complications. As a result, he believes that Ferrari’s 2025 season may be more unpredictable and challenging than it would be with a more defined structure in place.

Ultimately, the success or failure of Ferrari’s approach in 2025 will depend on how well the team can manage the internal competition between their two drivers, and whether they can keep their focus on the bigger picture: winning both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.