Red Bull to approach every race 'like a cup final' - Horner

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Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner drew on a football metaphor to explain how his team is tackling the 2020 season, saying that every race will be approached "like a cup final".

The Austrian Grand Prix was a race to forget for the bulls, with Max Verstappen retiring after just 11 laps with a strange electrical issue and Alex Albon clashing with Lewis Hamilton late in the race but with terminal consequences.

In hindsight, Horner reckons that a win could have been there for the taking for both his drivers given the drop-off in pace in the closing stages of the event of Mercedes leader and eventual winner Valtteri Bottas.

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"I think a win could’ve been on the cards, given you could see towards the end of the stint Valtteri started to get into some tyre problems.

"I think strategically we were sharp, we were very strong, and it’s a shame that we have no points to show for it.

"I think Mercedes have done a good job over the winter, we saw that in pre-season testing,” he added.

"I think that engine wise they’re looking strong as well but I think we’ve got the basis of a very, very good car in RB16 and you know the fact that we managed to split them today with Max, and be running in a comfortable second, is encouraging.

"So we need to try and sort out some of the balance issues that we had in qualifying and come back hopefully stronger next weekend."

However, this summer's frantic schedule coupled with the uncertainty of the total number of events that will take place this year mean that teams and drivers need to seize on every opportunity as every point will count.

"You need to go for every race and treat it as a cup final," said Horner.

"I felt we’d done that well, I felt that strategically we were strong and we’re pushing all the way.

"With both cars we were in a position to go for victory at different stages of the race so we’ve just got to keep applying that approach."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.