Horner denies again: Red Bull car 'not built' just for Verstappen

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has once again refuted claims that the team’s RB21 car was tailored designed for the team’s star driver, Max Verstappen.

While the Dutchman has consistently influenced car development, Horner insists Rd Bull’s design approach is data-driven, not driver-centric.

The notion that Red Bull engineers its cars to suit its four-time world champion’s aggressive style is a recurring theme built on the inability over the years for Verstappen’s teammates – Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and now Liam Lawson – to extract the same level of performance from their car.

Horner Addresses Car Design Philosophy

Horner has addressed these speculations, emphasizing that the team's priority is to develop the fastest car possible, rather than focusing on a single driver's preferences.

"The car is difficult to drive and Max is able to adjust to that,e he explained last weekend in Shanghai.

Horner further explained that Liam Lawson is currently struggling with confidence in the car, prompting the team to make significant setup changes to assist him.

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Reflecting on the team's development history, Horner noted that in early 2022, the car had a stable but understeering nature, which did not align with Verstappen's driving style.

An upgrade introduced in Spain that year added more front-end responsiveness, leading to improved performance from Verstappen but a decline in performance from then-teammate Sergio Perez.

"If I think back to the beginning of '22, we had quite a stable car but with quite a bit of understeer, which obviously Max hates,” he explained.

“We had an upgrade in Spain where we put a lot more front into the car and Max made a big step forward. Checo [Perez] sort of nose-dived from that point."

Team's Approach to Car Development

Horner emphasized once again that the team's approach is data-driven and not centered around any individual driver.

"You've got to produce the quickest car and you're driven by the information that you have and the data that you have. As a team, we don't set out to make a car driver-centric; you just work on the info that you have and the feedback that you have to produce the fastest car that you can.

“That's obviously served us very well with 122 victories."

Challenges for Lawson and Team Dynamics

Liam Lawson's recent struggles have brought renewed attention to the adaptability required to handle the RB21.

Horner acknowledged that the Racing Bulls car, which Lawson previously drove, is more stable and has more understeer, making it easier to adapt to.

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"The Racing Bulls car is a more settled car in terms of it probably is a little more stable on entry,” he said. “It probably has a bit more understeer in that car, and therefore, it's easier to adapt to.

“But you can see the difference in pace in the cars on a longer stint. But in terms of finding the limit in a car that has an inherent understeer is always going to be easier than finding the limit in a car that is a little more edgy."

As Red Bull continues its pursuit of championship success, the team remains committed to developing a car that balances performance and drivability for both its drivers.

Read also:

• Red Bull reportedly makes the call: Tsunoda to replace Lawson!

The ongoing challenge lies in creating a vehicle that complements Verstappen's aggressive driving style while remaining accessible for his teammates to perform competitively.

Lawson’s inexperience, compounded by limited practice at unfamiliar tracks this season , has made his transition tougher.

As F1 heads to Japan next, Lawson’s future hangs in the balance, while Horner stands firm: Red Bull builds for speed, not just for Verstappen.

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