Horner claims Red Bull have turned corner as Verstappen chases F1 title

In a recent interview, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner expressed a positive outlook on the team’s performance as they gear up for the final six races of the Formula One season. After navigating a tough period with back-to-back street races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, Horner noted that Max Verstappen has come out stronger than expected.

As Verstappen approaches his 27th birthday, he saw his lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris reduce from 62 points after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza to 52. As the season takes a four-week break before returning with races in the US, Mexico, and Brazil—starting in Austin, Texas on October 20—Horner shared his confidence in the team’s path forward.

“I think we’ve found a good direction in our development,” Horner said. “We’ve started to identify and tackle some of the issues we’ve encountered with the car. Our performance improved in both Baku and Singapore, and we’re feeling hopeful as we move ahead.”

Verstappen’s recent performances included a fifth-place finish in Baku and a disappointing sixth in Monza—his worst results this season, tied with Monaco in May. Despite these challenges, Horner remains optimistic, recalling Verstappen’s impressive streak last year when he won all six remaining races.

“The encouraging part from Singapore was that the car behaved just as we had anticipated,” he remarked. “The team is gaining valuable insights into the car’s limitations, which could open new avenues for development.”

Horner also pointed out that the Monza race provided crucial insights into the car’s challenges, characterizing it as a low point for the team. “We’re using that experience as a foundation to build upon,” he added.

While McLaren sees a genuine opportunity in the drivers’ championship, Norris has a tough road ahead. A single retirement could dramatically shift the competition’s dynamics. With three sprint races remaining this season, there are still up to 180 points available, but Norris will need to increase his scoring pace.

Interestingly, both the Azerbaijani and Singapore circuits were anticipated to favor McLaren. Yet, Verstappen only lost 10 points to Norris during those races, allowing him to maintain his lead.

Despite not having secured a victory since June, Verstappen’s lead remains solid. Following Norris’s first win in Miami earlier this season, he was 53 points behind Verstappen. Now, after 12 races since that victory, the gap remains unchanged, even with Verstappen yet to add to his win tally.