Horner: 'Brutal' double DNF for Red Bull likely caused by same issue

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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says the 'brutal' blow dealt to both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix was likely caused by a similar issue.

Verstappen's hopes of snatching victory from the clutches of race leader Charles Leclerc in the closing stages of the race were revived by a safety car period that reset proceedings.

However, the Dutchman was unable to mount a late challenge on his rival, his efforts hampered by a heavy steering issue and a battery problem, and then by engine trouble that forced him to pull into the pits and call it a day.

Meanwhile, teammate Sergio Perez was put out on contention while he was running third with a handful of laps to go when his engine cut out and spun the Mexican into retirement.

"It's a brutal finish to that race for us," a disappointed Horner told Sky Sports.

"What looked like a decent haul of points obviously evaporated in the last couple of laps there.

"We don't know exactly what it is yet, whether it's a lift pump, whether it's a collector or something along those lines, but we've got to get into it and understand exactly what's caused it."

Read also: Leclerc heads Ferrari 1-2 in Bahrain amid Red Bull meltdown

Horner's initial assessment of the situation led him to believe that Verstappen and Perez's late retirements were ultimately rooted in the same cause.

"It's all subjective at the moment until we get the cars apart and understand exactly what's caused the issue," he added.

"I suspect it's similar on both cars, because it's too close and too similar a failure."

Regarding Verstappen's steering plight that had manifested itself after the Dutchman's third pit stop, Horner said the problem had no bearing on the Red Bull driver's terminal issue.

"The steering issue was when the car got dropped after the final stop," he said. " think it's tweaked a track rod, so that's why it was slightly different left to right."

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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.