The intense rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes is the distinctive note of the 2021 Formula 1 season, finally grappling with a point-by-point fight between different teams up to the last race which is a first in the turbo-hybrid era of the category. For the Anglo-Austrian team it could be the return to the top for the first time since 2013, when it scored the two-winners drivers-constructors, led by Sebastian Vettel. Christian Horner he is aware that the Jeddah circuit may favor Mercedes, but he is convinced that the game in Abu Dhabi will be more open than ever, and he took the opportunity to congratulate the quality of the work done by Verstappen this season.
Balance of the hat-trick. “Over the course of the triple we had a 9 hour time zone swing in 10 days, which wasn’t easy. The team faced the challenges in an exceptional way and being able to achieve the results we achieved was a great feat, just as having narrowed the gap in the constructors with Mercedes was not bad at all. Mexico was an important stage for both the team and Checo. The support for him and the F1 hunger they have there is incredible, even just getting back to the hotel in the evening was challenging given the crowds. On the track we got a double podium, with Checo being the first Mexican driver to lead the home race and to finish it on the podium. Brazil was a different challenge and Max drove brilliantly. Unfortunately, the advantage Lewis had in the car was enormous, from tenth on the grid it was clear that he was going to fight for the win. The fact that Max kept him behind for 50 laps, when Lewis got rid of all the others already on lap 19, demonstrates the exceptional nature of his driving. As for Qatar, there were a number of unfortunate circumstances that led Max to have the penalty on the grid. The way he recovered was exceptional. And second position was the best possible result, with a Mercedes that had a faster car than ours in the race. But I appreciated that the straight-line speeds – for the first time in a long time – were similar. “
The pressure. “Don’t make mistakes. Max is fighting for his first F1 title and it is therefore an intense moment in his career. But the maturity shown during the season was impressive. He’s relaxed and handles pressure incredibly well, he’s driving at his peak. In Qatar he felt we wouldn’t be able to catch Lewis, but on the radio he commented: ‘I wanted to have some fun.’ He is blunt and doesn’t work with a sports psychologist. “
Management of expectations. “Fighting for the two world championships is exactly what we have worked for. Now there are two races left and this goal is extremely close. Max has an 8-point advantage among the riders and in the constructors we are 5 points behind. In the past few years we would have signed up to be in this position at this point in the championship. We want to be at the top, even if it has been a busy year and we put the pressure on our own. With the benefit of experience, we only care about the things we have in our control, rather than spending energy on something else. I really enjoyed this championship and the fact that we were able to fight against Mercedes and Lewis was phenomenal. Some people do their best under pressure, others would like to avoid it, but I think I’ve always done their best under pressure and this season doesn’t feel any different. Off the track there were more distractions than usual, but when the lights come on, everything else loses its meaning. F1 is a sport and therefore you need to have the right perspective. It is an intense competition, but other things are also important and therefore I relax with the family or walking the dog. People will always have their opinion on the sport and the team, but you can’t live your life according to what people think. You have to feel comfortable with your approach and run like this. “
Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. “In Saudi Arabia there will be the first race, and the track looks crazy, extremely fast. The first sector is like Suzuka, but with walls. It will be a huge challenge and I’m sure there will be lots of fun and lots of drama. We will observe the F2 race very carefully. On paper, it looks like a favorable track for power, therefore favorable for Mercedes, and I think they think so too. Then we go to Abu Dhabi, where in 2020 we were the first team since 2013 to beat Mercedes. But the circuit has changed considerably and we will prepare as best we can, and see where we finish. Whatever happens at the end of this championship, we will know that we have given everything we have. The races this year have been incredible and the rivalry has been intense and polarized opinion. This attracted a huge audience and being a part of it was wonderful. “
The disappearance of Frank Williams. “Hearing the news of his passing saddened me, he was a true gentleman and a true racing man. In my youth I was a fan of his team and when I got into F1 he always had time for me, and his love of the sport was contagious. I am close to the Williams family in this sad moment and on behalf of Red Bull I thank him for all he has given to F1. “
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