Red Bull facing ‘crucial’ period to turn the tide - Horner

Christian Horner says the coming weeks will prove critical for Red Bull Racing, as the team finds itself facing mounting pressure in both F1’s Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships.

Red Bull’s decline in performance has become evident, especially following the Italian Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen could only manage a sixth-place finish.

The narrow gap between Red Bull and McLaren at the top of the Constructors’ standings highlights just how much ground has been lost.

What was once a 115-point margin has dwindled to a precarious 8-point lead, while Verstappen’s seemingly secure advantage in the Drivers’ standings is now under threat as well.

Horner admits that the Red Bull is now feeling the heat and under significant strain to turn the tide.

“We’re under pressure to turn it around,” the Briton conceded, quoted by Speedcafe. “Nobody puts ourselves under more pressure than ourselves because finishing sixth hurts.”

Though Lando Norris remains 62 points behind, the Dutchman himself has admitted that his position is far from certain.

“The reality was Ferrari helped us out a little bit [in Monza] as did the fighting between the two McLaren drivers; otherwise the drivers’ championship, there could have been another chunk of points taken out,” Horner added.

• Read also: Red Bull taking cues from McLaren to solve RB20’s struggles

At the heart of Red Bull's struggles lies a balance issue with the car, which has prevented both Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez from fully unlocking its potential.

These problems began to emerge in the latter half of the 2023 season, according to Horner. But they have become increasingly evident as the 2024 season progresses and Red Bull’s once-dominant advantage erodes.

“The most important thing is understanding the issue,” Horner observed. “I think there are certain fixes that potentially can be introduced, perhaps not to resolve the whole issue but to address some of it.

“We’ve now got [after Monza] a two-week period before Baku and Singapore, and then we have another mini break, but that we can work in, between Singapore and Austin.

“This time now is crucial.”

Verstappen, too, has taken an active role in addressing the team’s issues. The Dutch driver has engaged deeply with the engineering team, working tirelessly to help identify and resolve the car's balance problems.

His increased involvement in trackside meetings, between-race engineering sessions, and simulator work has impressed Horner, who praised Verstappen’s maturity and leadership in the face of adversity.

“What’s really impressed with Max is how he’s really engaged in the process,” Horner said.

“He’s not panicking, he’s working with the engineers, he’s explaining very clearly where the issues are, putting the time and effort in.

“I think he’s shown great maturity as a world champion [in] the way he’s working with the engineering group.”

Despite the challenges they currently face, Horner remains confident in the strength and talent of the Red Bull team, emphasizing the depth of experience that has helped them to championship success in recent years.

“Nobody likes the situation they’re in at the moment, nobody’s happy with it, and we’ve got to work really hard to turn it around,” he said.

“But one thing this team has is strength in depth and talent.”

With the championship fight tightening and the pressure mounting, Red Bull Racing enters a decisive stretch of the season.

How they respond in the coming weeks could very well determine whether they can maintain their lead – or cede their place at the top of the sport.

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