Christian Horner says Red Bull's battle with Mercedes this season is not only on the track but also behind the scenes, with the fight reaching unprecedented "political" levels.
Red Bull leads Mercedes by 7 wins to 4 so this season – not taking into account the team's assigned win in Spa – but the Brackley squad heads the Constructors' standings by 33 points, while Lewis Hamilton currently enjoys a 2-point lead over Max Verstappen in the Drivers' championship.
While the fierce campaign unfolds on the track, the skirmishes behind the scenes between the two teams are just as intense, with political maneuverings directed by Mercedes against Red Bull – or rather its car - increasingly prominent according to Horner.
"When we competed against McLaren for the championship and Lewis was driving for them, and when we were competing against Ferrari with Fernando Alonso and Stefano Domenicali, it was a very different atmosphere to this one," Horner told the PA news agency.
"This has felt a lot more political with lots more going on behind the scenes. The inbox from Toto to the FIA, they are going to need a major clear-out at the end of the year.
"Toto has never been in a position where he has been challenged," added Horner.
"He inherited a very competitive team from Ross Brawn and he has done a great job in maintaining that but this is the first time he has had this kind of pressure and people react to pressure in different ways."
The battle for supremacy between Red Bull and Mercedes will continue to rage, with the title fight between F1's two protagonists likely to go down to the wire.
Horner believes that Hamilton thinly veiled digs at Verstappen signal that the seven-time world champion knows that he's under pressure and that a changing of the guard is on the horizon.
But mind games with Max are a waste of energy and time insists the Red Bull team principal.
"Lewis loves to try and play with people's minds, and Max just doesn't bite," Horner added.
"When you point a finger in a direction, there are three pointing back at you, and the one that is really feeling the pressure is Lewis.
"He is fighting to be the most successful driver of all time, he is the defending champion. Max is 23, he has got many years ahead of him, and coming into this season he was the outsider.
"He is just enjoying it, the racing, the challenge, and he has the benefit of youth.
"Time never stands still and Lewis has achieved so much, a phenomenal champion, but there is always going to be the next generation."
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