Horner quashes rear wing misstep claims: ‘We didn’t forget it’

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has denied that the Milton Keynes-based outfit has found itself in a bit of a flap in Las Vegas after forgetting to bring an adequate rear wing for its RB20 car.

The team – and championship contender Max Verstappen in particular – found themselves under scrutiny during practice sessions for this weekend’s race in Sin City where Red Bull’s car is suffering a top speed deficit relative to its rivals.

Whispers in the paddock alluded to a potential operational blunder, a rumor fueled by Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko who suggested the team had brought the wrong rear wing configuration to Vegas.

"We don't have another rear wing, a smaller rear wing, as we see it on our competitors,” the Austrian said. “It would be more helpful, for sure."

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Marko: ‘No chance at all’ for Red Bull in Las Vegas

Had the dominant RB20 been handicapped by a simple packing mistake?

Taking the mic after FP3, Horner was quick to debunk the hearsay, offering a mix of technical explanation and a pinch of sarcasm to set the record straight.

“We forgot it apparently! It can happen. But no, we didn’t forget a rear wing,” he told Sky Sports.

“There’s no issue with it. I don’t know where it quite came from. We don’t have a specifically-designed wing for very low downforce which is basically potentially here and Monza.

“The money that is involved in creating that within the cost cap you’ve got to pick and choose where you’re going to spend it.

“The wing that we have you end up trimming the wing to achieve a top speed. That’s what many many other teams have done.”

The Las Vegas weekend holds extra significance for Verstappen, who is on the brink of clinching his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship.

With a 62-point lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris and three races left, all Verstappen has to do is finish ahead of Norris on Saturday night to secure yet another piece of silverware for his ever-expanding trophy cabinet.

And judging by Horner’s comments, a suboptimal rear wing isn’t going to get in the way of that goal.

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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.