‘Stable rules give Red Bull a real opportunity’

Michelle Foster
Max-Verstappen-and-Christian-Horner-Red-Bull-PA

'Stable rules give Red Bull a real opportunity'

Red Bull has a “real opportunity” to challenge with Christian Horner confident lessons learned last season can be applied this year.

Although Red Bull got off to a slow start last season, Max Verstappen was the driver who finally ended Mercedes’ run of eight successive victories.

The Dutchman secured the Austrian GP win before adding Germany and Brazil to his tally.

His three wins meant the Red Bull driver claimed the most race victories outside of Mercedes and went onto finish the championship third on the log.

This year Red Bull want more.

“For the first time in probably five or six years we’ve got stability in the regulations and that gives us a real opportunity to take the fight to our rivals,” Horner told Verstappen’s official website.

“The lessons we learned last year have been carried over from RB15 to RB16.

“We also have stability in the team and that, alongside the momentum we built over the second half of last year, means we’re in a very good place to mount a strong challenge this year.”

The team boss, though, concedes that it not entirely in Red Bull’s hands, the team also needs engine partner Honda to come to the party.

Last year Honda-powered cars achieved 11 podiums, nine from Verstappen and two from Toro Rosso.

Horner added: “A big factor to enable us to mount a challenge is the power unit and in Honda we have an intensely motivated and competitive partner.

“Honda did a great job in 2019 and each iteration of the power year brought more performance and more power.

“It feels like we’re getting closer to our main rivals.”

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